This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • There's a new sheriff in town, at least for the next month.
With senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton sidelined 4-6 weeks because of a sprained knee, Kent Myers will start Utah State's Mountain West Conference opener against Colorado State on Saturday.
Myers, a sophomore from Rowlett, Texas, is familiar with the spotlight.
After injuries knocked out the three quarterbacks in front of him last season — Keeton, Craig Harrison and Darell Garretson — Myers stepped in and performed well. He guided the Aggies to a 5-1 record in six starts, including a 21-6 win over UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.
According to coach Matt Wells, his players have put the emotionally jarring news of Keeton's latest injury behind them.
"Those kids are all on the same page," he said. "They understand the unfortunate part — that [injuries] are part of the game. We wrap our arms around Chuckie. Everybody is sensitive to that injury and, at the same time, we all have to move on. And here we go."
If Keeton misses six weeks, he could return for Utah State's final two regular-season games against Nevada (Nov. 21) and BYU (Nov. 28).
"He's doing fine," Wells said. "He's going to get rehabbing and see where it goes."
Keeton and Myers similar to receivers
Senior receiver Devonte Robinson joked the biggest difference between Keeton and Myers is their size.
Keeton stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds. Myers is listed as a 6-footer who weighs 196 pounds.
"I'm going to say there isn't a big difference," Robinson said. "Height-wise, yeah. A little. But I wouldn't say there's much of a difference. Chuckie has more experience than Kent … [but] they are both mobile and they can both throw."
Utah State's offense has struggled in its first three games — a 12-9 win over Southern Utah and losses to Utah (24-14) and Washington (31-17). Only three of the Aggies' five touchdowns have been produced by the offense. The two others came on an 88-yard punt return against SUU and a 97-yard fumble return at Washington.
Utah State ranks last in the country in total offense (292.3 yards). The Aggies are 119th in passing (179 yards) and 121st in rushing (113.3 yards).
"Kent stepped in, took us to a bowl game and won last year," Robinson said. "I believe he can do it again."
Familiar territory
At 1-2 heading into their conference opener, Wells and the Aggies find themselves in a familiar situation.
In 2014, Utah State was 2-2 after four games following wins over Idaho State (40-20) and Wake Forest (36-24) and losses to Tennessee (38-7) and Arkansas State (21-14). The Aggies finished 10-4, including the bowl win.
In 2013, Utah State started Wells' first season as head coach with a 3-4 record. But the Aggies finished on a five-game winning streak that got them to the Poinsettia Bowl.
Said Wells: "I feel some similarities to the past couple of years and, at this point in the year, it'll be up to us as coaches to see how we respond."
Twitter: @sluhm