2027 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Shane Keenan, OL, Youngstown State University

• Name: Shane Keenan
• Position: OL
• College: Youngstown State University
• Height: 6’5″
• Weight: 305 lbs.
• X: @shanekeenan20
• Instagram: @shane62keenan

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

What made me decide to be a football player I think growing up was I had an older brother and an older cousin who lived with me and I’ve been around football my whole life since I was born I mean, we have pictures of me in diapers on my dad’s shoulders at pee wee football practice it’s always been something I’ve loved and been around and something I’ve always wanted to do. So I’m really grateful to get the opportunity to do it.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

For my football life, I think number one will be when I got my first scholarship. It will be from Eastern Michigan it was huge to see for my family to just have that weight off our shoulders that we weren’t going to have to pay for college, but actually playing I would say every time in high school when we played our rival Catholic Central those games all stick out to me and then in college I would say two years ago when we were four and eight when we beat UNI in overtime to end the season off with a really big win. I think that projected us to kind of where we are now. Which it’s always been just a good memory for me just to get out in overtime I mean it’s it’s everyone dreams of getting that overtime, we didn’t care about our record at the time we just all wanted to win and it was just awesome to be a part of I think about that all the time

What are your favorite things about playing football for Youngstown State?

My favorite things about playing for Youngstown State is at this point my career everybody that plays kind of came in with me besides like some transfers here and there on offensive and defense, but for the most part like my whole class that came in 2022 we were the biggest class ever coming in to Youngstown I think we were like 37 kids and just knowing that I get to play with all these guys that I kind of went through college with like Beau is being great as he is, but we’ve been here the whole same time altogether, Des is another one we were in the dorms together. Just everybody Alex McDonald, Colt Sechrest who just got done playing, Joe Sferra who just got done playing. Just all of us and we’ve all been around for so long together that I think our chemistry is just really good and it’s just really fun to be a part of the team whenever everybody you’re playing with is your friend like I know everybody.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

I think I’d probably go with Aaron Donald. I get to see what his workouts are about every time I hear about him. Just everyone says how crazy his workouts are. Yeah, he’s always known for his intense crazy workouts and he was a beast on the field. No one’s ever really done it like him. So that’s someone I’d definitely like to kick it with for sure.

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

My favorite offensive scheme I would have to say is pin and pull for sure because I just love being out in space and it just kind of gives us a lot of freedom at offensive line. Because we’re normally attached to a guy in a sense like we were numbers for numbers but with pin and pull it’s kind of just the first guy you see so you get to go out there and show your athleticism a little bit. I’ve always loved it.

What stands out about your film the most?

What stands out about my film the most I think It depends what tape you watch if it was tackle I was really good at run blocking like really good at inside zone getting a guy cut off on the inside going left but I guard I’m really, really good at helping out my center and tackle in pass protection because a lot of the times at guard on a 4 down or a three down rush one of the guards or sometimes even both of them are going to have no one to block so you get to help your guys out and I just love hitting people who aren’t looking legally. It’s some of my favorite stuff to do. I’ve always been a big fan of it and my teammates love knowing that I’m coming to help him out whenever they’re in that standstill.

What should we know about Shane Keenan the person?

I would say I’m very, very personable, which is different from anyone who knew me growing up, growing up I kept to my friend group that was who I talked to, but nowadays, I’m friendly with everybody. I think I can get along with literally any person. I think that’s something new for me. Another thing about me is just when I really put my mind or something I can’t stop myself from doing it if that makes sense like if I wanna do this or that or the other and like the weight room and football field like I don’t have the ability to stop myself before I finish that goal like it’s all that will be on my mind. It’s all I prepare for, it’s all I train for. So I can get really, really narrowed vision on something that I really want done and I love that about myself.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I think what I liked the most about the game of football is probably the fact that I can hit people legally. And kind of have no repercussions for that. I’ve just always liked hitting people my whole life. I like playing with 11 people because I mean it holds accountability across your whole team like 10 people are doing the right thing but if the 11th person isn’t the whole thing’s gonna fall apart I really like that you’re in that setting where you’re held accountable and and you get to hit people it’s kind of a win-win for me. I love competing.

Who is the most underrated player played with and why?

I think in high school I played with this kid. His name was Tremendous West and he didn’t do anything really for college but he was probably one of the most athletic people I’ve ever seen in real life. He was just crazy, just never really stuck it out. He just never really wanted to go play a college sport and then in college I would say Daryan Bowling, who unfortunately had to step away because of concussion protocol. He had too many, but he was one of the most one of my favorite people I’ve ever had to play with. He just always had that energy. He was really good at what he did. He was one of those dudes you’d see on the back side of a play blocking his butt off on a DB that would never make a play. Just one of those dudes you love to play with, Daryan has always been one of my favorite teammates to play withI just wish I could’ve played with him a little bit more.

What would a team get in a player like you?

You’re going to get everything I mean, where I’m from football is kind of really all I got. I mean it’s either that or work in the mills, so I mean I’ve dedicated my life to this. Everybody says this, but I mean it like I need this. Like this is my life. This is what I want to do in life and there’s nothing that’s going to stop me. I love everything about this. I love waking up and doing what I do and I’m someone who likes to compete. Real hard worker and I love what I do. I feel like I don’t really even work. I think I’m still a kid at the ripe age of 22 just still out here playing football with my friends. I love it, I love working on it. I love dedicating my whole life around it . It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed and I’m very, very coachable. I’ve been one of those players that coaches are always able to yell at forever for as long as I’ve been able to live. So having that I’m not taking that yelling or coaching personally is something that I hold myself to and I love it. I just love everything about football and am very grateful.