Chuckie Keeton Likely Out Remainder of 2014 Season

Utah State [University] senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton will likely miss the remainder of the 2014 season after suffering an injury to his surgically repaired left knee, it was announced Wednesday [Oct. 1, 2014] by USU head coach Matt Wells.

Keeton, who has never redshirted during his time at Utah State, suffered the injury late in the second quarter of USU's 36-24 home win against Wake Forest Sept. 13 and missed USU's last game at Arkansas State.

Keeton's injury stems from last season when he tore both his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee against BYU Oct. 4, 2013.

“Chuckie’s health is our top priority and he has not been cleared to play by our medical staff,” said Wells. “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, a 6-2, 200-pounder from Houston, Texas, (Cypress Creek HS) played just two-and-a-half games this season and was 51-of-92 passing for 426 yards (142.0 ypg) with two touchdowns and four interceptions. He also had rushed for 81 yards on 20 carries (4.1 ypc) with one touchdown.

Among active quarterbacks at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, Keeton ranks fifth in career completion percentage (.654), seventh in career touchdown passes (58), seventh in passing efficiency for a career (145.2), eighth in total touchdowns responsible for (73), eighth in career rushing yards by a quarterback (1,234), 10th in total offense for a career (7,621 yards), 10th in career pass completions (568), 11th in career pass attempts (869), 12th in career passing yards (6,387), and is one of just five FBS quarterbacks to throw for at least 6,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 yards in a career.

For his Utah State career, Keeton ranks first all-time in completion percentage (.654), second in touchdown passes (58), second in completions (568), third in total offense (7,621 yards), third in passing yards (6,387), fourth in passing attempts (869), and 20th in rushing yards (1,234).

Following Keeton's injury in 2013, Utah State went 6-2, won the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference with a 7-1 mark, and advanced to the inaugural Mountain West Championship game. USU then ended its season with a 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the San Diego County Credit Union to finish the year with a 9-5 record and tie the 1960 and 1961 teams for the second-most wins in school history.

Utah State (2-2, 0-0 MW) returns to action this weekend at No. 18 BYU (4-0) Friday, Oct. 3, at 8:15 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

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