Keeton out against Arkansas State
The USU football team (2-1) started the year with high expectations. Hopes that quarterback Chuckie Keeton could break out and win the Heisman his senior year and ESPN articles about the Aggies breaking into the four-team college playoffs indicated big things in store for USU.
That’s where the season began for Utah State, but with the first three games of the season in the books, the Aggies’ future remains uncertain.
Each game this season has been different for Utah State, but they have all had one thing in common — injuries.
Kyler Fackrell, Brandon Swindall and Alex Huerta —all key players— currently sit on the injured list for Utah State. Although the USU Athletic Department hasn’t made any official statements, it is expected that Fackrell, Swindall and Huerta will miss the rest of the season.
Running back Joe Hill took a hard hit during the Wake Forest game and didn’t play most of the game, though no official statements have been made about his health.
Keeton was also injured just before halftime during the Wake Forest game. He didn’t play the second half, and his health is yet to be determined for the remainder of the year.
“This week we’re going to start Darell Garretson at quarterback,” said coach Matt Wells following the Aggies’ victory over Wake Forest. “Chuckie is fine from a health standpoint. The ACL is intact, everything is good, it’s just banged up. We’re going to sit him out this week and next week, then reevaluate and see where he’s at during the BYU week.”
Though playoff hopes were crushed with a week one loss to Tennessee, the team is optimistic it can overcome the multitude of injuries and still have success.
“We have to come out fast,” said sophomore safety Devin Centers. “Our first game against Tennessee, we came out a little slow, as far as the team goes. But if we come out and actually play at a high level like we did here against Wake Forest, I feel like we’ll be able to roll.”
Utah State plays Arkansas State this Saturday in Arkansas before taking on nationally ranked BYU in Provo on Oct. 3. Mountain West Conference play begins Oct. 11 in Logan when USU hosts Air Force.
“Just like last year, we’ll have to play very well on defense,” Wells said. “We’re going to have to find ways to be difference-makers on special teams, and the guys on offense are going to have to play a little bit better around him. The recipe is the same, the ingredients are just a little different.”