Former Utah State Quarterback Adam Kennedy Is Transferring To Arkansas State
By Kyle Kensing
Dec 17, 2011; Boise, ID, USA; Utah State Aggies quarterback Adam Kennedy (2) during the first half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against the Ohio Bobcats at Bronco Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Myerberg of USA Today reports that former Utah State quarterback Adam Kennedy is transferring to Arkansas State.
Interesting: Arkansas St adds former Utah St QB Adam Kennedy. Eligible in 2013. Played very well down stretch in 2011. Good get for Harsin.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) April 26, 2013
The signing is confirmed on Arkansas State’s official athletic website.
Kennedy stepped in during Utah State’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl run in 2011, after Chuckie Keeton suffered a neck injury in a Nov. 5 game at Hawaii. Kennedy led the Aggies on a 28-point second half, and finished the season with as many touchdown passes (11) as Keeton.
Keeton returned at full strength last season and led the Aggies to the final Western Athletic Conference championship and a top 25 ranking. Keeton has two years of eligibility remaining.
Kennedy is a junior college transfer and received his degree from USU, thus making him immediately eligible for Arkansas State. The RedWolves lose two-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Aplin.
Aplin accrued impressive numbers in his three seasons captaining the Arkansas State offense. He passed for over 10,000 yards, including more than 3300 in each of the last two campaigns. Aplin was also an effective rusher, carrying 1756 yards and 31 touchdowns in his career.
Kennedy is perhaps less of a running threat, although he did rush 55 times for 239 yards in 2011. New Arkansas State head coach Bryan Harsin used Texas Longhorns quarterback David Ash in the ground game sparingly last season. Ash rushed 51 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
Arkansas State wrapped up its spring practices earlier this month, so Kennedy is slightly behind the other RedWolves quarterbacks, jockeying to replace Aplin. Stephen Hogan was the standout among quarterbacks in Arkansas State’s spring game, going 16-of-20 for 123 yards and a touchdown. But Hogan lacks the game experience Kennedy brings to the table. Harsin will have an interesting choice to make come preseason camp.
Harsin is the third RedWolves head coach in as many seasons. Hugh Freeze accepted the Ole Miss Rebels vacancy after leading ASU to the 2011 Sun Belt championship. Gus Malzahn returned to lead the Auburn Tigers after just one year in Jonesboro.