When Utah State takes to the field next week for the first of its 15 spring practice sessions, the Aggies won’t, as expected, have one of the top quarterbacks in the country at their disposal.
Chuckie Keeton suffered a tear of both the ACL and MCL in his knee during an early-October loss to BYU last season. It was thought, but never definitively stated, that Keeton would be out until at least June, with the target being a full return to health for the start of summer camp.
That timeline remains a reasonable expectation, although it also means Keeton will not participate at all in spring practice, the school confirmed Wednesday. The Aggies will commence spring practice next Tuesday.
Barring some type of setback, Keeton should be 100-percent healthy well ahead of the 2014 season opener against Tennessee Aug. 30 in Knoxville.
At the time he sustained the injury, Keeton was second in the country with 17 touchdown passes.
Joining Keeton on the sidelines this spring will be starting running back Joe Hill. Hill finished third on the team in rushing (252 yards) despite missing more than half the season with his own knee injury.