Kenton Keith
Encyclopedia
Kenton Jermaine Keith is an American football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
at New Mexico State
.
Keith has also been a member of the New York Jets
, Indianapolis Colts
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and Omaha Nighthawks
.
, averaging better than 11 yards per carry as a junior and better than 13 yards per carry as a senior.
rushing for 2,134 yards over four seasons.
in 2001. In the spring of 2004, he signed with the New York Jets
of the National Football League
, but never made the team, and returned to the CFL where he was a West Division All-Star in 2006.
early 2007.
He was a second string running back for the Indianapolis in 2007, backing up feature back Joseph Addai
. Keith had his first 100 yard rushing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 33-17 win with the Colts.
On August 30, 2008, Keith was released by the Colts during final cuts.
on September 22, 2008. He was released on May 7, 2010.
on June 10, 2011. He was released on June 16.
Roger Craig.
after 3 a.m. on several charges, including disorderly conduct
and resisting law enforcement. Other charges were public intoxication and "contributing to the delinquincy of a minor." after helping a 19 year old enter the club. He was part of a large group of people gathered in the parking lot. Witnesses said that Keith and several others continued to lean in cars, dance in the parking lot and yell and scream despite several warnings to leave the area. They also said that Keith was drunk and smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes. Police allegedly asked Keith to be quiet in a parking lot after the club closed. Keith responded that he "would not be quiet," that he played for the Colts, and that he'd leave "when he got ready."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at New Mexico State
New Mexico State Aggies football
The New Mexico State Aggies football team represents New Mexico State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Western Athletic Conference ....
.
Keith has also been a member of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
and Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
.
Early years
Keith played high school football at Omaha Benson High SchoolOmaha Benson High School
Omaha Benson High School Magnet, Benson High Magnet, or Benson High, is located at 5120 Maple Street in Omaha, Nebraska, in the Benson community of Omaha. The original site of Benson High was the current building that houses Benson West Elementary School. Founded in 1904, Benson High is one of the...
, averaging better than 11 yards per carry as a junior and better than 13 yards per carry as a senior.
College career
Kenton then attended New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
rushing for 2,134 yards over four seasons.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Keith signed with the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
in 2001. In the spring of 2004, he signed with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, but never made the team, and returned to the CFL where he was a West Division All-Star in 2006.
Indianapolis Colts
Keith signed with the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
early 2007.
He was a second string running back for the Indianapolis in 2007, backing up feature back Joseph Addai
Joseph Addai
Joseph Addai, Jr. is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University.-Early years:Addai's family hails from Ghana in West Africa...
. Keith had his first 100 yard rushing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 33-17 win with the Colts.
On August 30, 2008, Keith was released by the Colts during final cuts.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Keith was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
on September 22, 2008. He was released on May 7, 2010.
Omaha Nighthawks
Keith was signed by the Omaha NighthawksOmaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
on June 10, 2011. He was released on June 16.
Personal
Kenton's father Percy Keith played collegiately at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1976-1980), and briefly in the NFL. Keith is also a cousin of former NFL running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Roger Craig.
2008 arrest
Keith was arrested outside an Indianapolis nightclubNightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
after 3 a.m. on several charges, including disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
and resisting law enforcement. Other charges were public intoxication and "contributing to the delinquincy of a minor." after helping a 19 year old enter the club. He was part of a large group of people gathered in the parking lot. Witnesses said that Keith and several others continued to lean in cars, dance in the parking lot and yell and scream despite several warnings to leave the area. They also said that Keith was drunk and smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes. Police allegedly asked Keith to be quiet in a parking lot after the club closed. Keith responded that he "would not be quiet," that he played for the Colts, and that he'd leave "when he got ready."