Optimism swells at Utah State as healthy stars return to field


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LAS VEGAS — Mountain West media day is a chance for every team to talk about optimism for the upcoming season.

For Utah State, there's plenty of that.

The Aggies are confident and hopeful after the return of injured stars Chuckie Keeton and Kyler Fackrell.

Keeton is back for a fifth season after re-injurying his knee last year. Fackrell also returns after a knee injury suffered in the first game of the season at Tennessee.

Both say they are ready to go.

"I feel great," said Keeton, who missed 10 games in 2014. "I've had another year of getting some extra work in, just lifting and getting my leg stronger. I fit in these slacks a little tighter now, so that's good."

Keeton remarked a year ago how strong his knee felt after surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. That strength didn't make it more than three weeks.

But he didn't mention one thing a year ago.

"I didn't say anything about the slacks, though," Keeton said with a laugh. "That's a tell-tale sign right there. I feel a lot better. I think it'll help not playing with a knee brace. I'm going back to the knee sleeve, which is vintage Charles Keeton IV."

USU linebacker Kyler Fackrell practices with the football team on Aug. 5, 2014, in Logan. (Photo: Tom Smart/Deseret News)
USU linebacker Kyler Fackrell practices with the football team on Aug. 5, 2014, in Logan. (Photo: Tom Smart/Deseret News)

Utah State coach Matt Wells said a healthy Keeton is a big deal in the health of his team's season.

"You just hope and pray for that kid that he can go start to finish, all the way through," Wells said. "It's not just for us as a team, but for the kid; he deserves it."

Fackrell, meanwhile, isn't taking many chances with his surgically repaired knee.

"It's 100 percent — I will wear a brace through the first little bit," Fackrell said. "But I can run around. We've been doing 7-on-7 stuff as a team, and it felt really good to run around and play football again."

The Aggies are happy to get back the leadership of Fackrell, Wells said.

"He's hungry," said the head coach, who is 27-13 in his third season at Utah State. "He's a quiet leader. He's a very confident leader."

Fackrell hopes to be able to last more than one game this season — so he can contribute to the Aggies' already top-notch defense.

"I don't know if I had this kind of level of excitement since the first year I played at Utah State," he said. "It's been a long time."

The Aggies open fall camp in Logan on Aug. 7.

"To have all those guys back makes you a better coach," Wells said.

Contributing: Sean Walker

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