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Utah State plans to honor its seniors before Friday's game against San Jose State, but apparently the school feels so strongly quarterback Chuckie Keeton will receive a medical hardship he isn't among the honorees.
Keeton hasn't played since the first half of the Wake Forest game on Sept. 13 in which he threw for 166 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-27 passing. The senior did not return for the second half of the 36-24 win due to lingering knee problems related to the injury he sustained last season. Two weeks later the school announced Keeton's injury would sideline him for the remainder of the season. Keeton finished with 426 yards on 51-of-92 passing this season and rushed 20 times for 80 yards in the three games in which he played.
School officials confirmed they are planning to ask the NCAA to award Keeton another year of eligibility under the medical hardship guidelines.
Keeton meets the requirements, which state an athlete must not have participated in more than two contests or 20 percent of the team's completed contests, the injury must have occurred before the first half of the season, the injury must be incapacitating and medical documentation must be provided.
Keeton played in just six games in 2013 before he suffered his first season-ending injury on Oct. 4 against BYU. He was 136-of-196 passing for 1,388 yards with 18 touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed 55 times for 241 yards and two touchdowns.
As fo the players who will be honored, they are corner La'Ron Bennett, punter Jaron Bentrude, receiver Ronald Butler, tight end Jefferson Court, kicker Nick Diaz, quarterback Craig Harrison, running back Joe Hill, receiver Shaan Johnson, nose guard Elvis Kamana-Matagi, defensive end B.J. Larsen, linebacker Tavaris McMillian, corner Rashard Stewart, safety Brian Suite, center Joe Summers, safety Frankie Sutera, offensive guard Bill Vavau, linebacker Zach Vigil, offensive guard Bryce Walker and offensive tackle Kevin Whimpey.
Neither McMillian nor Johnson have played this season due to injuries.