McKissic on mend after rough season

JONESBORO -- J.D. McKissic's name wasn't anywhere to be found when the All-Sun Belt Conference football teams were announced Wednesday.

That almost seemed surprising considering Arkansas State's junior wide receiver took up two spots on last year's All-Sun Belt first team as a wide receiver and an all-purpose player and was a preseason first-team selection as a wide receiver this season.

But McKissic's absence aren't all that surprising considering what the Phenix City, Ala., native has gone through this season.

ASU (7-5) held its first practice Thursday morning in preparation for its game against Toledo (8-4) on Jan. 4 in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

McKissic went through most the drills and said he felt good. That's positive news considering he hasn't been completely healthy since the first half of ASU's loss to Tennessee in the second game of the season Sept. 6.

McKissic has played through a dislocated shoulder suffered against Tennessee, a partially torn meniscus suffered against Utah State that will require surgery in January and an ankle injury sustained Oct. 21 at Louisiana-Lafayette.

" It's been tough," McKissic said. "Every player all over the country goes through injuries, but just not being able to play every game, I want to play every game. So, yes, it's been a drag."

McKissic, who holds ASU's career receptions record, caught 45 passes for 530 yards in 10 games. That marked his lowest totals in both categories in his three seasons in Jonesboro. He also didn't catch a touchdown pass, and his only touchdown came on a 12-yard run against Utah State.

McKissic's production wasn't anywhere near what Coach Blake Anderson had hoped when he arrived last December. Anderson quickly identified McKissic as the "A-back" in his up-tempo, Spread offense. The position allows a player to be used in the backfield, in an outside receiver's spot or in the slot depending on the play.

"We had tremendously high expectations, as did everybody in the league," Anderson said. "Between the shoulder, the knee and the ankle, it's been frustrating for him."

McKissic tried as best as he could.

His injury problems began in the third quarter of ASU's 34-19 loss at Tennessee. Trailing 24-12, McKissic went to field a punt but the ball popped out of his hands when he a defender hit his shoulder, which led to the dislocation.

McKissic caught seven passes for 59 yards in the next week against Miami, but the following week he suffered a partially torn meniscus against Utah State. He played through that injury and had his best game of the season the next week, when he caught eight passes for 120 yards against Louisiana-Monroe.

Then he injured his ankle Oct. 21 against Louisiana-Lafayette and has yet to get over that. He's caught two passes for 18 yards since then, with both coming at Texas State. He missed home games against South Alabama and Appalachian State. He played against New Mexico State but didn't catch a pass, take a hand off or return a kick.

"He tried to play through it as much as he could," Anderson said. "It just wasn't possible."

McKissic said he might have come back too quickly from the injuries.

"In the Idaho game, I probably should have just rested," he said. "It was all on me. It's basically my fault."

McKissic is one of several players who figure to benefit from a bit of rest before serious preparations begin next week for Toledo. ASU went through a 90-minute workout Thursday at Centennial Bank Stadium, with veteran players spending the latter part of practice going through conditioning work.

The goal is to get players who are dealing with nagging injuries as close to 100 percent as possible for the trip to Mobile.

McKissic expects to be in good shape for the game. Or at least in good enough shape to play an entire game for the first time in seven weeks.

"If I don't get to 100 percent, I'll be close," he said. "I'm just looking forward to playing a whole game."

Sports on 12/12/2014