COLLEGE PLAYER NEWS

Utah State QB Keeton likely out for season

The Sports Xchange

October 01, 2014 at 6:42 pm.

 

The loss of Chuckie Keeton is a big blow to Utah State. (Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports)

Utah State announced Wednesday night that senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton likely will miss the remainder of the season. He injured his surgically repaired left knee against Wake Forest on Sept. 13 and hasn’t played since.

“Chuckie’s health is our top priority and he has not been cleared to play by our medical staff,” Utah State head coach Matt Wells said in a press release. “We will continue to monitor his progress throughout the fall, but given his current condition it is unlikely that he will play in any games in the foreseeable future.”

Keeton underwent surgery last October after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee, ending his 2013 season. He sat out spring practice and summer workouts but was able to start in the Aggies’ season opener at Tennessee and started against Idaho State and Wake Forest before being sidelined.

The aggravating injury didn’t occur until the third game of the season, but it was clear from the start that Keeton wasn’t himself, wearing a brace on his left knee and not appearing to be 100 percent healthy.

Keeton entered the season as NFLDraftScout.com’s No. 3 senior quarterback prospect with a third- to fourth-round draft projection, but the knee injury puts his NFL future in doubt. A fourth-year senior, Keeton will have the option of petitioning the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility to return to school in 2015, but no decision in that regard was announced.

When healthy, Keeton is one of the more exciting players in all of college football. He has a live arm with an easy delivery and release. The ball appears to shoot of his hand. Keeton is an energetic athlete with balanced footwork, shifty open-field moves and a fast-paced style to keep defenses on their toes.

In 27 career starts before the October 2013 knee injury, he completed 66.5 percent of his passes with 70 touchdowns (56 passing, 14 rushing) and only 13 interceptions. In three games in 2014, Keeton completed only 55.4 percent of his throws with three scores (two passing, one rushing) and four interceptions.

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Keeton lacks NFL size, already a red flag. With his inability to stay on the field the past two seasons, his durability is a strong concern moving forward. While he is unlikely to be selected if he enters the 2015 NFL Draft, a healthy season next year at Utah State could help rebuild his draft stock in the eyes of pro scouts.

–Dane Brugler is an analyst for NFLDraftScout.com.

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