JONESBORO - Adam Kennedy was back with his Arkansas State teammates flinging passes Monday morning, as he has been since the team returned from a holiday break Saturday.
Kennedy’s mere presence at practice is a sign for progress for the Red Wolves’ senior quarterback, who is still working his way back from suffering a dislocated left kneecap and torn patella tendon during the regular-season finale Nov. 30 at Western Kentucky.
But how much progress he’s made remains to be seen. Kennedy said after Monday’s practice that he’s still not sure if he’ll be ready to start or how much he’ll play in Sunday’s GoDaddy Bowl against Ball State.
“For awhile it was progressing really fast and we were feeling pretty confident,” Kennedy said after Monday’s practice. “The last couple of days, I think we’ve taken a step back, honestly. … We’re hoping I’m good to go and I’m playing a lot.”
Kennedy went down with the knee injury in the second quarter against Western Kentucky and never returned in the 34-31 loss. His injury didn’t require surgery, but he didn’t practice during ASU’s first week of preparations before taking last week off.
He returned Saturday, and since has been splitting time with backup Fredi Knighten, as ASU has dealt with uncertainty at quarterback for this first time this season. Kennedy won the job in fall practice and started every game while throwing more than 90 percent of ASU’s passes.
Interim Coach John Thompson said a decision on who will start at quarterback might not be made until just before Sunday’s 8 p.m. kickoff against the Cardinals in Mobile, Ala.
“We want to give him every opportunity to be at his best,” Thompson said. “The worst thing we can do for him is throw him there when he’s not ready. We’ll see, as they say, that’ll be a game-time decision.”
Kennedy said he’s so unsure of his knee that if it was a regular-season game, and not the final game of his senior season, he likely would have already been ruled out.
But Kennedy, who transferred from Utah State in May, said he’d like to cap his only season at ASU by playing before he begins to prepare for his appearance in the College All Star Bowl at Greenville,S.C., in February.
“This university gave me such a great chance,” Kennedy said. “I want to go out there and play for these guys and these coaches that gave me a chance to do what not many players get to do and transfer for their last year. I’m going to give it what I can and see how it goes.”
If Kennedy does play, his limited mobility could be cause for an alteration to a game plan that led ASU to a 4-1 record in the season’s final five games.
Kennedy became a large part of ASU’s focus to a more run-oriented offense starting with the second half of a Nov. 2 victory over South Alabama, averaging 19 carries and 80.5 yards in four consecutive victories before his injury at Western Kentucky.
“He hasn’t been hit on it, and we’re very limited in what we’re trying to do with him in the run game right now,” ASU co-offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz said. “We’re just playing it by ear. We’ll see. Fredi is getting a lot of reps and we’re making sure both of them are ready and we’ll do whatever we’ve got to do.”
Knighten completed 11 of 17 passes for 61 yards and rushed for 47 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Hilltoppers, which gives Drinkwitz a bit more easy feeling if Kennedy isn’t able to play. Drinkwitz, who took over play-calling duties for the final five games, said if Kennedy is healthy enough to play, Knighten will play at some point.
“[Knighten’s] practice like a champion. He’s got a lot of winner in him,” Drinkwitz said. “Well, crud, he’s been a ball player the whole time. I ain’t worried about putting him in.”
GoDaddy Bowl Arkansas State vs. Ball State WHEN Sunday, 8 p.m. Central WHERE Mobile, Ala.
RECORDS Arkansas State 7-5, Ball State 10-2 TV ESPN
Sports, Pages 15 on 12/31/2013