VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Kevin McKeethan and the QBs
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2023 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle signal callers with assistance from offensive coordinator and QBs coach Kevin McKeethan.
A new offensive coordinator/QB coach and a new quarterback for 2023. Topics 1a and 1b throughout the offseason surrounding C-N's football program have been "what's the offense going to look like under McKeethan?" and "who's the starting quarterback?"
The first question is fairly easy. C-N will still be a triple-option team. The second remains unanswered. Sophomore Zane Whitson and junior Lenoir-Rhyne transfer Tre Luttrell exit camp sharing reps at first string.
"Tre and Zane didn't get asked the question who the starting quarterback is on media day," McKeethan said. "My answer to that question is the same as it would be yesterday, and it's the truth, we haven't named a full-time starter. We have guys in the mix and have been pleased with both of them. Tre and Zane have worked hard and its been really cool to see them make progress."
Whitson has a touch more experience under center compared to Lutrell, but Lutrell has more on-field experience than Whitson.
Whitson appeared in seven games for C-N. He completed seven of 19 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 42 yards and a score. He saw extended time in the Eagles' opener at West Georgia (Sept. 1) due to an injury to starter Ivan Corbin.
Whitson completed 3-of-8 passes for 40 yards against the Wolves, including a 29-yarder. He tosses his lone touchdown pass in the finale at Catawba (Nov. 12) when he hooked up with Korey Waters for a 27-yard TD. His lone rushing TD came at Mars Hill (Oct. 22).
Meanwhile, Luttrell redshirted last year after sitting out due to intra-conference transfer rules. Luttrell, whose father played for C-N in the 1990s, was a jack-of-all-trades for Lenoir-Rhyne in 2019. He finished with a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and a special teams touchdown. All told he had 11 carries for 50 yards and two catches for 26 yards. He had a 12-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown to give LR a 7-0 lead in the Second Round of the NCAA Playoffs against Carson-Newman.
"Our team believes you can win with both guys," McKeethan said. "I've been in QB competitions in the past both as a player and a coach. They can take bad turns and good turns; they can be a rallying point for the team. I sense that it is going toward the latter. They both have a lot of respect from their teammates and have strong relationships with all positions. They both have different personalities and skillsets, but they complement one another. We look forward to a final decision, but we are also enjoying the journey and process to that point."
After Lutrell and Whitson, the Eagles have veteran depth in three-year letter winner Mason Brang, Kentucky State transfer and former Alcoa QB Jaylen Myers and USF transfer Gavin Gosnell.
"We do have a great room of guys," McKeethan said. "The good Lord has taken care of me with the people I get to be around. Mason Brang has learned the offense and is a smart player. I'm thrilled he's here. Jaylen Myers has good experience at Kentucky State and Gavin Gosnell transfers in as a freshman from South Florida. They've both worked hard since getting on campus."
The future of the room resides in three freshman – Anderson County's Walker Martinez, Miami-product Dylan Tulloch and champion tomato slinger Bryson Bennett of Grainger County.
"Bryson Bennett had a unique career at Grainger County," McKeethan said. "Dylan Tulloch was a big time recruit for us out of Miami, and then you get a local kid – Walker Martinez – who won a state championship at Anderson County. He provides a completely different kind of skillset, but he's worked himself into the depth at that position."
Carson-Newman opens the season Aug. 31 under the lights of Burke-Tarr Stadium at 7 p.m. against Virginia-Lynchburg. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins one hour before kick with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports.
