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LOGAN — Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton made waves nationally when he received a medical redshirt for a fifth season of eligibility with the Aggies this fall.
A prominent awards committee has taken notice.
Keeton was one of 24 quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award watch list, joining running back LaJuan Hunt as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, the respective committees announced Thursday.
The fifth-year senior from Houston, Texas, is the only candidate from the Mountain West named to the 24-player watch list, and he joins BYU quarterback Taysom Hill as the only representatives from the state of Utah to earn the recognition. Keeton was also named a candidate for the Maxwell Award and the Wuerffell Trophy.
The O'Brien Trophy is typically given to the nation's top overall quarterback, and signal callers from all 128 FBS institutions are eligible for the award. The watch list is designed as a preseason starter pool for the committee, though players may be added to the list during the season.
The list will be trimmed to 16 semifinalists Nov. 2 and finalists announced Nov. 24. The award will be presented to the top NCAA quarterback at a ceremony Dec. 10.
Hunt, a sophomore from Fort Lauderale, Florida, is one of three players from the state of Utah on the Doak Walker Award watch list. The speedy running back joins BYU's Jamaal Williams, Utah's Devontae Booker and five players from the Mountain West as preseason candidates for the award.
BYU's Luke Staley was the last Doak Walker Award recipient from the state of Utah, winning the trophy in 2001. Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon won the award last year.
Nominations for the award will be accepted through October. The three finalists will be determined Nov. 24 and the winner announced Dec. 10.
Both awards will be announced and presented during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
