Competitive quarterbacks
At the conclusion of the 2011 Utah State football season, there were two questions in the minds of Aggie fans: First, will Robert Turbin enter the NFL draft? And second, who will be USU’s starting quarterback next season?
The first has long been solved, but the second answer will take more time before it’s answered.
During last summer camp, freshman Chuckie Keeton was named the starting quarterback moments before taking the field in a memorable almost-victory against Auburn, narrowly beating out junior Adam Kennedy.
Keeton held a 2-5 record until he was injured during the first half of the game at Hawaii on Nov. 6. Kennedy took over for his fallen comrade and led the Aggies to a comeback victory over the Warriors before helping Utah State win the next four games and earn a berth in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl – the first bowl appearance for Utah State since 1997.
Thus, the question: Who will reclaim the starting job for the 2012 season?
Kennedy said, based on the situation in last year’s training camp and throughout the season, the two quarterbacks are in a “weird predicament.”
“We both played so well,” Kennedy said. “We both won games. You could even see during spring, we’re competing so close. We both have experience that you can only get from a game. There’s things learned that we both know now, and you can see we both have a command of the offense.”
Keeton said both he and Kennedy have proven themselves as capable offensive generals in games.
“Really, it’s just whoever can get our team in the best opportunity and the best position to win,” Keeton said. “Really, I believe both of us have that potential. We did it last year.”
Sixth-year senior wide receiver Matt Austin said either one of the candidates could lead the offense any day of the week.
“They’re both two different quarterbacks, but they’re pretty much equal,” Austin said. “They both come out here and work hard. They’re both with coach Wells everyday grinding. It could go both ways.”
Senior running back Kerwyn Williams said he feels both quarterbacks are well composed.
“They have a good knowledge of the playbook and how the offense works,” Williams said. “Chuckie’s real athletic out there. He makes a lot of plays with his feet as well as his arm. Adam is very patient in the pocket and makes great decisions.”
USU offensive coordinator Matt Wells said there is no timeframe for deciding which quarterback will take the field first.
“It’ll go into the summer,” Wells said of the quarterback battle. “(Kennedy and Keeton) need to kind of separate. They both have different strengths. They both have different abilities to come to the table and both are excellent. They both have had success on Saturdays.”
Head coach Gary Andersen said Kennedy and Keeton are both tremendous young men.
“They’re both proven winners at the Division-I level,” Andersen said. “They are unbelievable competitors. The way they handle themselves through adversity they’ve both been through – Chuckie obviously with an injury (and) Adam coming in and being the guy that’s going to have the job, but not getting the job through camp, staying as positive he did and coming in, doing things that he did for us.”
Wells said Keeton and Kennedy have both worked on specific things to make themselves better quarterbacks than they were last year.
“I think they both bring something to the table,” Wells said. “I think with Adam, he’s tightened up his release and tightened up his footwork. He has an excellent arm, can make all the throws, and he’s a little bit better in the running game that you think.
“(Keeton) throws a quick game, excellent, and I think he’s getting better in the drop-back. Chuckie is dynamic out on the edge and out on the perimeter. He needs to become more efficient in his accuracy out on the perimeter, throwing the ball.”
Kennedy said both he and Keeton will undoubtedly work as hard as they can to claim the starting job.
“I think we’ll both try to make it extremely tough on these coaches,” Kennedy said.
Wells said the competition will continue to be a good battle.
“I’m sure we’ll need both of them at some point next year,” Wells said. “They’re both excellent quarterbacks. I don’t think that there’s any doubt they’re both true, valued members of the Aggie football team, and they know we need them both.”
When asked if there were any situations in which both Keeton and Kennedy might be on the field at the same time, Wells smiled.
“We’ll see,” he said.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu