Going Home a Hero

Keaton picked in fourth round of NFL draft

The Cincinnati Bengals selected running back Curtis Keaton ('00) in the fourth round of the NFL draft in April. He was the third player selected on the second day of the league's annual talent search and the 97th overall pick.

The Bengals are a perfect fit for Keaton. He's going home to Ohio to play professionally in front of family, friends and his son, Armond. "There really isn't any big pressure," he says. "Pressure is when you have a boy that's 4 years old, who's depending on you to do your part. That's pressure. Football is easy."

Easy, maybe, if you're Curtis Keaton, who set several school records during his senior year, including the single-season rushing record (1,719 yards) and touchdowns (21). He has five of the top nine game rushing performances in JMU history, and he rushed for 100 yards in 14 of his 23 career games at JMU. He was the only back to rush for over 100 yards against Virginia Tech last season. Keaton transferred to JMU as a junior from West Virginia University, and his 2,783 career yards is second only to JMU's Warren Marshall, who rushed for 4,168.

Keaton was expected to be picked in Day 1 of the draft, which included the first three rounds. He was the 10th running back chosen in the draft and the third player in JMU history to be taken in the fourth round. No JMU player has been drafted in an earlier round. Charles Haley was San Francisco's fourth-round pick in 1986, and Macey Brooks was Dallas' wide receiver choice in 1997.

"I'm glad the smoke has cleared," Keaton told the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record from his parents' home in Columbus, Ohio, on April 16. "I think it's a good fit for me. I would say the Bengals are somewhere close to the model JMU was in."

Cincinnati ended last season 4-12, but Keaton is ever the optimist. He hopes the Bengals can turn around as quickly as the Dukes, who followed a 3-8 season in 1998 with an 8-4 finish in 1999. "I choose to think of myself as a winner," says Keaton, "so slowly but surely, all the pieces are coming together."

Keaton reported to mini-camp in April and, even though a rookie, he may see some NFL action. Bengals starting running back Corey Dillon, who had a 1,200-plus yard season, threatened to sign with another team this summer. Dillon's back up, Ki-Jana Carter, has been plagued by injury and dislocated a knee cap in April.

"If Keaton comes in and is the best tailback, he will play. If he's the worst, he won't," says Jim Lippincott, the Bengals' director of player personnel. Lippincott first saw Keaton perform in the Blue/Gray Classic last Christmas. Keaton impressed many skeptics that day, rushing for over 100 yards and being named Gray MVP.

"Keaton shows all the skill needed to be a good running back," adds Lippincott. "He's going to have to learn how to play at this level insofar as the seams to run through don't stay there very long. He'll have to learn to create on his own."

In a time when NFL players are being charged with serious crimes from theft to murder, Keaton's reputation probably helped him get drafted in an early round. JMU head football coach Mickey Matthews says, "Keaton's off-field reputation and character have done good things for JMU football. We told teams that we never had a problem with him. He's loyal and a hard worker. He'll probably earn playing time through special teams action, as do many rookies. He returns kickoffs very well and has the vision and speed needed to be a strong return man."

By Michelle Hite ('88)