Alex Khvatov:
What are your measurements
(height, weight and forty time)?
Keith Wenning:
I am 6’4”, 220 currently and my last forty time
was a 4.75 as a senior in high school. I am
much faster now. I can run somewhere in the mid
4.6’s.
Alex Khvatov:
How did you get into
football in the first place?
Keith Wenning:
I have been playing football ever since I was
young. I was playing with my friends in junior
high and elementary school. I started seriously
playing in 7th grade and all through
high school.
Alex Khvatov:
Coming out of high school,
what programs showed interest in you?
Keith Wenning:
Academy
of
Air Force
offered me first. Then Ball State showed a lot of interest in me with
Stan Parish and his staff. A lot of other MAC
schools talked to me and showed interest.
Alex Khvatov:
What made you choose Ball State?
Keith Wenning:
I felt like they had the best overall outlook
for me. They told me that I can play right
away. It was not too far away from home. I
loved the campus and the stadium. Everything
felt right.
Alex Khvatov:
Tell me about your sophomore campaign
Keith Wenning:
As a team, it was a first year under the new
coaches. We bought into their system. We took
a step forward by posting a 6-6 overall mark.
We were bowl eligible. I was happy with the
year. Individually, I lost over 25 pounds. I
became a more athletic quarterback. I worked
hard in the weight room, in the film room and
with my diet.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your early impressions about your team
after spring practice?
Keith Wenning:
I see that our guys are a lot more comfortable
with the system that we are running after spring
practice. We picked up right where we left off
last year. We are farther along on offense. We
are a team that is playing with confidence and
swagger. We are not timid. All of the credit
should go to our coaching staff including our
strength coach. We are making better strides
this year.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your expectations for your upcoming
junior season?
Keith Wenning:
We want to win more games than we won last
year. We want to make it to a Bowl game. The
ultimate goal is to win the MAC conference.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your strengths?
Keith Wenning:
I was voted as one of the captains on the team.
My biggest strength is leadership. I know when
I need to be vocal as a leader and I know when
to lead by example on the field. Everyone looks
at me on the field. My teammates see how I
carry myself. I feel like I am the guy that can
step up and make that play. As a QB, you have
to be able to do it.
Alex
Khvatov:
What areas of your game do
you need to improve upon?
Keith Wenning:
One thing that I tried changing last year is the
turnover margin. I worked hard watching film.
Last year I improved as a sophomore, but my
interception numbers were still high. I need to
get my turnovers and interceptions down. It is
my main focus.
Alex Khvatov:
What is the highlight of
your career up to this point?
Keith Wenning:
Our game against IU. It was the first game of
the season for us and our new coaching staff.
We believed in our coaches. We showed that we
can compete with whomever after beating Indiana. Beating them was a great way to
start the season. It was a new beginning for
us.
Alex Khvatov:
Which players on your team
are ready for a breakout season?
Keith Wenning:
I feel like one player is WR Willie Snead. He
was a freshman last year. He has worked hard in
the weight room. He changed his body. He got
bigger and stronger. He made plays in the
spring. He could become a big time receiver.
WR Connor Ryan’s hands are great. He can be a
deep threat as well as the possession receiver.
Jamill Smith and Jack Tomlinson can make people
miss. I feel good about our receivers this
year.
Alex Khvatov:
What do you enjoy most
about football?
Keith Wenning:
Saturdays is the best time. Gamedays is the
greatest feeling in the world. I love playing
football. I love everything about football. I
love the workouts, practices, working with my
teammates and competition. I wouldn’t pass it
up for anything.
Alex Khvatov:
What is your favorite NFL
team?
Keith Wenning:
I don’t have a favorite team. I love to watch
any NFL game and any team. I love watching
football. I love watching both sides of the
ball.
Alex Khvatov:
Who is your favorite NFL
player?
Keith Wenning:
I like watching a couple of players. I watch
the QB’s - Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. They
are perfectionist. I can get tips and hints
from them while watching them play.
Alex Khvatov:
How do you think Peyton
Manning will perform for the Broncos this
upcoming season?
Keith Wenning:
He is a veteran guy and a very successful
player. He has enough years under his belt to
win that locker room over and be successful. He
can be just as successful as in the past.
Alex Khvatov:
What does it take to be a
leader?
Keith Wenning:
Someone who is vocal and someone who can lead by
example. Not everyone is going to like you, but
they will respect you. I push people’s buttons
sometimes as a QB. I have to push them in
practice or in games. You also have to do the
right stuff all the time as a leader.
Alex Khvatov:
What are your hobbies?
Keith Wenning:
Away from football, I am a huge sports fan. I
love competition. I love hanging out with my
friends, listening to music and video games. I
like being with my family. They support me more
than anybody else.
Alex Khvatov:
Finish the sentence, Keith
Wenning is…
Keith Wenning:
I am a good friend. I am fun to be around. I
love to have a good time. I love to carry on
conversations with people. I am a good
athlete. I am a smart individual. I am a
playmaker. I try to make other people
successful.