Alabama football lineman claims 'team grill master' status
After all, who better than a 315-pound defensive tackle like Tim Keenan to be smoking proteins in large quantities? The Birmingham native admits to an ongoing learning curve when it comes to brisket − the trickiest, most temperamental of all smoked meats − but Keenan will put his barbecue game up against anyone else on the roster.
"I'm the grill master, now. I can throw some chicken on there for you, smoked Rotel, good burgers, ribs," Keenan said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. "But I'm working on the brisket."
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Keenan enters his final season at the college level with high expectations as a returning starter in what should be one of the SEC's top defenses. Asked about the Alabama brand as it relates to coach Kalen DeBoer's recent stretch of recruiting success, Keenan tied in grill skills with his answer.
"On these (official visits), you've got players who want to host these recruits. We even grilled out at my house. It's always good for the recruits to see us in (that) way," he said.
From there, he rattled off his specialties; properly smoked Rotel can make for a fine dip, although Keenan likes to stick primarily with proteins. He's about to invest in a pellet grill, he said, with hopes that he can dial in brisket perfection with it. That's a lofty goal, but not one he needs to reach to be confident around the food fire.
"Either way," he said. "We're going to have some good eats."
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Who is Alabama football's team grill master? Bold claim made at SECMD
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