Wednesday, April 14, 1999

Kenner assumes leadership role

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UC quarterback sees room for improvement

BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Deontey Kenner (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        This is Deontey Kenner's team now. The University of Cincinnati junior quarterback, who is leading UC through spring football drills this month, is now The Man.

        Chad Plummer, the longtime starter who helped ease Kenner into the role last year, exhausted his eligibility in 1998.

        And while Kenner in '98 became the first underclassman in UC history to throw for 2,000 yards (2,047), he has several numbers he would like to improve from 1998.

        Such as UC's 2-9 record.

        Such as his touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio (6-to-13).

        “I feel like I've got to play another role now, to lead this team,” said Kenner, 6-foot-2, 202 pounds. “A lot of people expect me to take that role now. ... Chad is not here to help me any more.”

        Kenner shared quarterback duties with Plummer last year, although Plummer spent most of his time at wide receiver. Kenner started five games but took most of the snaps and helped make Plummer (61 catches) either a late-round NFL draftee or a free-agent hopeful come this weekend.

        But while Kenner thrilled UC fans with his big arm, he also got the Bearcats into trouble with interceptions. UC led the nation with 37 turnovers last year, with Kenner accounting for about one-third of those.

        Kenner, a quiet sort, said he hopes to be coolly efficient. He's not much for rah-rah speeches.

        “You can do it by talk, but you really lead by execution,” he said. “If you show you can do it, guys will follow you.”

        UC coach Rick Minter is counting on that, leaving no doubt that Kenner is his man. Minter groomed Kenner for the starting role almost from the moment he signed him out of Hopkinsville High School in Western Kentucky.

        At Hopkinsville, Kenner threw for 7,046 yards and 80 touchdowns, with the TD total ranking third in Kentucky history behind former UK star Tim Couch and current Louisville standout Chris Redman.

        “Last year was a growing year for Deontey,” Minter said. “He played like a redshirt freshman, getting his feet wet. He had some heroics, but he also had some bonehead plays. And he also got knocked out of a game.”

        Kenner missed one game after suffering a separated shoulder last September. The shock of the injury, not to mention UC's bad season overall, were something new to Kenner. He had known mostly winning through his career, including his splashy debut in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl when UC beat Utah State. That day, Kenner threw for 124 yards and a TD in his first extensive action as a “true” freshman.

        “The tempo of the game is the thing I've had to adjust to the most,” he said. “The athletes are so much bigger and faster in college, and I've caught on to that now.”

        Kenner has shown an arm capable of making both touch passes and quick shots into coverage. But he'll also have to adjust to a new offensive coordi nator, former Auburn quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher.

        “If there are any changes, it will just be in passing terminolo gy,” Minter said. “He's picked it up well.”

        The 1999 schedule is set up for a quick start. UC's first two games are home dates against Kent (0-11 last year) and Troy State, a good Division I-AA team (8-4, NCAA playoffs) but a Division I-AA team nonetheless.

        Those two games could give Kenner much-needed confidence heading into foreboding dates versus Wisconsin and Ohio State in Weeks 3 and 4.

        “At least now, I feel like I've been there,” Kenner said. “It's my time.”

       

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