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Utah State survived one quarterback injury after another in its 2014 football season. Now, it's time to see which one can survive the challenges of spring football to emerge as the favorite for the starting role for 2015.
The Aggies begin their spring session on Monday with more interest than ever in their quarterback position.
Chuckie Keeton, Utah State's poster boy for a Heisman campaign in 2014, is the logical favorite to resume the starting role he commanded before his season was cut short a second straight time with a knee injury.
But also in the quarterback stable are Darell Garretson, the backup who suffered a season-ending wrist injury, Kent Myers, who finished the season for the Aggies, and Damion Hobbs, who sat out the 2014 season after transferring from Oregon.
"I feel really good about our quarterbacks," Utah State coach Matt Wells said in a reversal of the fortune in which he was dealt during the season. "I'm excited to watch them compete against themselves and get better on a daily basis."
It is the availability of Hobbs and the health status of Keeton that makes the quarterback battle so intriguing.
When news broke that Hobbs was transferring, many pegged him as the most probable successor to Keeton because of his initial Pac-12 pedigree.
However, Keeton was awarded another year of eligibility by the NCAA since his season ended prematurely. But fans may temper their excitement about his return after they see him on the field in live action based upon what happened in 2014 when Keeton looked OK in practice, but was gimpy once the long grind of games began.
How healthy is he now and can he hold up for the season? Those are the questions that must be answered.
Unlike last year's spring practice, when Keeton was recovering from his first knee injury, he will be participating fully this time, Wells said.
"He's healthy and Darell's healthy, so it will be good to have the competition between them," Wells said. "They both need and want to push each other. Darell's going to get reps with the ones too, and it's going to make us better."
As for Hobbs, Wells said he benefits from being in the system, but isn't sure how he will fit in with the group.
"He got a lot of reps during bowl prep, but where he's at, we don't know yet," Wells said.
Quarterback might be the most captivating position to watch during spring, but it certainly isn't the only spot of concern.
Running back will get plenty of attention, as well. LaJuan Hunt, who led the team with 540 yards on 111 rushes, served as Joe Hill's backup last year. However, the Aggies added junior college standout Devante Mays, who has a reputation as a big, physical back, a style the Aggies lacked last season.
"That is a position that is going to have a lot of eyes on it, and it's going to be evaluated daily," Wells said. "It will be fun to see those guys compete and who rises to the top and see who does all the right things with pass protection, being able to play fast and within our system."
Defensively, the Aggies must replace several players who not only started but were the team leaders, too.
Gone are linebacker Zach Vigil, defensive end B.J. Larsen and safeties Brian Suite and Frankie Sutera.
But the defense does get a boost from the return of three players who suffered season-ending injuries in 2014, in linebackers Alex Huerta, LT Filiaga and Kyler Fackrell.
The Aggies won't know until fall how everyone will fit into the system though, since Filiaga and Fackrell won't participate in spring ball as they recover, and Huerta will participate only on a limited basis.
Nick Vigil will be held out too for precautionary reasons after he recently aggravated the hamstring injury he suffered last season.
Their absence will let the Aggies' up-and-coming players have a chance to get some valuable reps to prove themselves on the field and as leaders, an intangible ingredient that made the departing seniors so special in Wells' mind.
"They epitomized everything we do as a program," Wells said of the leaders from the 2014 season. "But that is the depth of this program with recruiting, you just keep reloading."
Twitter: @lyawodraska —
USU practice schedule
Monday • 3:30-5:30 p.m. (No pads)
Tuesday • 3:30-5:30 p.m. (No pads)
Thursday • 6-8 a.m.
March 21 • 8:50-10:50 a.m.
March 24 • 6-8 a.m.
March 26 • 6-8 a.m.
March 27 • 3:20-5:20 p.m. (Scrimmage)
March 31 • 6-8 a.m.
April 2 • 6-8 a.m.
April 3 • 3:30-5:30 p.m. (Scrimmage)
April 6 • 3:30-5:30 p.m.
April 7 • 2:30-4:30 p.m.
April 9 • 6-8 a.m.
April 11 • 2 p.m. - Blue vs. White Game
April 13 • 3:45-5:45 p.m.