What if Kent Myers had started all year? What if Keeton never got hurt in 2013? What if Brandon Swindall and Hunter Sharp had played all year?
These questions I’m sure are running through the minds of many Aggie fans after this last weeks impressive performance against #21 Boise State. I will help ease the minds of Aggie fans by answering these nagging questions.
What if Kent Myers had started all year?
Kent Myers has been a masterpiece on the field since taking over for Chuckie Keeton following the game at Washington. He is 3-0, adding to his record last year making him 8-1 in the regular season. His numbers are not off-the-charts, but they are efficient. He has a 67.1% completion percentage so far this season, bringing his career total to 66.6%, putting him in the top 20 in the nation in that stat. He has 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on the season in the air. He has a near perfect QBR of 157.2. He has also been impressive on the ground putting up 244 yards and 2 touchdowns in three games this year. While yes this has been impressive, it is hard to give him all the credit. Devante Mays has emerged as a high-quality running back, making him and LaJuan Hunt a two-headed monster out of the backfield. Hunter Sharp missed the first two games of the year (Suspension) while Swindall missed the first two and was limited in action in the third game (Injury). This made it more difficult for Chuckie Keeton to develop a rhythm against SUU, Utah, and Washington. He had no targets to pass to, leaving him only Freshman Zach Van Leuwen and transfer Andrew Rodriquez. He passed for 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, with a rating of 95.8. You could argue that Kent Myers is better, but that leads us to the second nagging question of the day.
What if Keeton never got hurt in 2013?
Going into the game against BYU on October 4th 2013, Keeton had thrown for 17 touchdowns and 1 interception that season. Keeton unfortunately tore his ACL, beginning a downward spiral of health issues that has not allowed him to regain his old form, looking like a shell of his old self. This has been hard to watch for many Aggie fans, who hold out hope that he will shine as bright as he did before that fateful day. What if he had never been hurt? Could he have gone on to be considered for the heisman? Could the receivers develop around him, and the Aggies could be competing for a National Championship this year? These questions are nice dreams to have, but we will never know. So for now we will wish for Keeton to heal, and wish him well in the future.
What if the Aggies had been healthy all year?
What if Sharp (Suspension) and Swindall (Injury) had played all year? Since returning to action for the Aggies, Hunter Sharp has become the Aggies leading receiver, totalling statistics of 23 receptions, 278 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Brandon Swindall still seems to not be 100%, but just his presenc on the field has opened up lanes for Devonte Robinson to emerge as a solid target for Kent Myers, (18 Rec, 266 Yds, 1 TD). These targets could have eased the pressure on Keeton early on, providing more than a still developing running game.
All of the questions are probably still burning in your minds, but I hope this little bit of insight can give the Aggie fans a little more hope for next year. The Aggies are in action this Saturday at San Diego State.
For more conversations like this tune in every weekday at 9 am on Aggie Radio, either online at radio.usu.edu, or using the Tune-In app.
Stats provided by: ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015
