Notre Dame’s defensive line room has a new arrival drawing plenty of attention, and Charlie Partridge sounds convinced Keon Keeley is starting to look the part.
Partridge said Keeley has made clear progress since spring, when the transfer was still adjusting to the defense’s terminology and pace. Now, the Notre Dame defensive line coach says the former Alabama lineman is playing faster because the mental side is no longer slowing him down.
"He’s really embraced the playbook," Partridge told the media after one recent practice about Keeley. "Not that he didn’t in the spring, but we do a lot.
It’s all new language. I was doing it, too.
You tend to translate your words... He's past that now and playing faster.
That growth has stood out enough that Partridge believes Keeley is beginning to show the talent Notre Dame hoped it was getting. In spring practice, he was still processing things. In preseason camp, he’s starting to “cut loose.”
At the top of the depth chart right now, Partridge pointed to senior Boubacar Traore and junior Bryce Young. Young has also earned mention as one of the players who has popped a bit more early in camp. But Keeley is making a push, even if he doesn’t end up beating either of them out.
When asked who the top two defensive ends were at the moment, Partridge said Traore and Young would have to be the leading names. He also made it clear Keeley is right there in the mix, along with LT [Loghan Thomas] and Rodney [Dunham].
"there's significant improvement by them, but also by Keon, LT [Loghan Thomas] and Rodney [Dunham] is certainly in the mix right there.”
The rest of the edge group, Partridge said, is still in development and not yet in position to challenge for major playing time. But the coaches feel good about the first five names in the room.
Traore’s rise has already been proven on the field. After spending his first two seasons in South Bend as a reserve, he broke out in 2025 with 37 tackles, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
His best game may have come against Miami, when he finished with 6 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. If that level holds, he looks set to keep his starting job.
That leaves the other opening, and that’s where the battle could really heat up between Young and Keeley. Young put together a solid second season at Notre Dame with 20 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 passes defended. Keeley’s line at Alabama included 13 tackles, 3 sacks and one pass defended.
Partridge has plenty to work with here, and Notre Dame appears to have its deepest edge group since 2019. The question now is whether Keeley can keep climbing and force his way into a starting role.
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