Heisman hopeful Chuckie Keeton's return has football buzzing

Leave a legacy.

Prior to his sophomore season at Utah State — a season that saw the Aggies go 11-2 and finish the season ranked in the top 25 — quarterback Chuckie Keeton and his teammates received a shirt with that mantra printed across the back.

Heading into his senior season, Keeton still has that shirt, and is hoping to make that motto a reality after his junior year was cut short by a torn ACL.

"I think I like it so much, because that's really why you come to college … you want to leave a legacy," Keeton said. "That's really what we're trying to do. We're trying to finish setting the foundation, and hopefully it can carry on into a great program."

That foundation includes a school-record 20 wins in two seasons, back-to-back bowl wins for the first time in school history and a previously unknown level of excitement for Utah State football — a program that endured decades of misery prior to 2011.

A dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate for the second consecutive year, Keeton has been a major factor in USU's turnaround. He already holds multiple school records and resides in the top 10 in the nation amongst active quarterbacks in many categories. He'll also be playing on a surgically repaired knee in 2014.

"He'll need to make that first cut and take that first tackle and do some of the things like that and feel comfortable, but this one thing I do know — they did not hurt his mind, and they did not hurt his arm," USU head coach Matt Wells said.

"His arm's a weapon, and his mind is a tremendous weapon and it's vastly underrated in my opinion. He has God-given ability and talent, but what he has is a mindset and a makeup to be an elite quarterback in college football."

That talent and ability was on fine display in 2012 when he ranked 17th nationally in total offense (307.1 yards per game) as he threw for 3,373 yards and 27 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He also rushed for 619 yards and eight more scores. Overall, Utah State had the No. 21 offense in the nation that year, averaging nearly 470 yards per game.

As a junior, Keeton got off to an even faster start.

He tossed 18 touchdown passes to just two interceptions in a little more than five games, before scrambling on a long third-down play and injuring his knee in the first quarter against BYU.

Season over. Heisman campaign derailed.

A hyper-competitive person, Keeton turned his attentions to other things. His studies, watching film, lifting weights, rehab. While he never would have asked for such a severe injury, incredibly, he says he is thankful for it.

"I'm very competitive, and sometimes it's way too much, so all that competitiveness had to go somewhere else," Keeton said. "(The injury) kind of opened up my eyes to other options in my life and it helped me grow as a person."

His coaches and teammates also think he's grown, and expect him to be even better in 2014. So does the opposition.

"A guy like that comes back from injury. The great athletes and great competitors bounce back," current New Mexico and former Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie said. "I hate the fact, because we have to go up there and play them, but I'm really happy for him and really happy for our conference that he gets a chance to show what he can do. He is a dynamic guy."

Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain, a former offensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban, is also a fan of Keeton.

"The guy's the most dynamic playmaker, I think, in our conference," he said. "Who would you pay to buy a ticket to go watch? I'd go watch this guy. He's fun man, just the way he plays the game. I think that speaks volumes for what it's all about."

Though Keeton is the highest-profile returnee for Utah State on the offensive side of the ball, he certainly isn't the only returning talent.

Running back Joe Hill, who tore his ACL the game before Keeton, is also back for his senior season. He will be joined in the backfield by Rashad Hall, a former Colorado commit that redshirted last season, and a host of highly touted newcomers.

At receiver, Brandon Swindall returns, along with JoJo Natson and Ronald Butler. Natson and Butler both had some run-ins with the law during the offseason, and Wells said the issues are currently being handled.

"Those are things that we're dealing with right now. They're being handled internally as we speak. They'll continue to be handled, really in the weeks to come," he said.

"They're things that I'm not proud of that have happened. We won't tolerate it. Yet, our job as coaches is to continue to discipline, to love, to rehabilitate and to give kids the tools to be able to make good decisions. It's all a work in progress. Just like raising kids, nothing's ever perfect."

Braelon Roberts, Damoun Patterson, Devonte Robinson and various others could be counted on to step up as well, should Natson or Butler miss any time.

Sophomore tight end Wyatt Houston has also been receiving some preseason love and is poised for a breakout year after having his redshirt pulled midway through the 2013 season. He tallied 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns in seven games.

Up front is where USU will have the most significant changes on the offensive side of the ball. Four starters are gone from the offensive line, leaving only Kevin Whimpey at left tackle. Despite the number of starters lost, the Aggies do return some experience up front with players like Bill Vavau, Joe Summers, Taani Fisilau, Jake Simonich and Bryce Walker.

"I'm excited about the talented kids coming in, but again they've got to buy into our mindset, the way we do things, the culture that we've created at Utah State and then put that with their talent and hopefully that shines through," Wells said.

As for the Heisman hype, Keeton says he's honored by all the recognition, but really feels like any accolades he receives are a reflection of his teammates making plays around him.

"It's not distracting, and I can't even say I love it. I feel blessed to have all this attention right now, but really I'm just happy to represent my school," Keeton said.

"I'd say eight years ago, or maybe even less than that, there would not be this much excitement about Utah State in general. I'm really just happy to represent what we have developed and what other guys have developed before us. We're definitely just trying to raise the bar and raise the standard for Utah State football."

Tim Olsen writes for The Spectrum (St. George, Utah).