Kirton feels better after ‘hairy’ situation
SEATTLE – Count it as one of the goofier injuries you’re likely to see.
While Carl Bonnell was busy getting a concussion and Kenny James was limping around on a sprained ankle, Johnie Kirton was having chin trouble.
The sophomore tight end missed most of last week’s loss to Arizona State with an infected hair follicle in his chin that eventually made its way into Kirton’s blood stream.
“Probably about five minutes before the game started my fever started going up and I left the game with a 105-degree temperature,” Kirton said.
“I had no idea what happened to him during the course of the game,” UW offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. “He’s there, and the next thing I know I’m asking where Johnie Kirton is and he’s in the hospital. It’s unbelievable.”
The infection got so bad that Kirton ended up in the emergency room. But Kirton said he feels better now and is embracing a new role that started to take shape last week when he started taking snaps out of the backfield in practice.
“As of right now it’s probably just third-and-shorts or goal line situations, which I can’t complain (about),” Kirton said. “I’ve got to earn beyond that.”
Of course, Kirton came to Washington after a tremendous career as a tailback at Everett’s Jackson High School, where he ran for 2,675 yards as a senior. But he was moved to tight end last season and that’s where he’s been since.
But last week he began getting a few plays in practice as a short-yardage running back and got his first collegiate carry against Arizona State, picking up a first down on third-and-1. But after that, his health went downhill and trainers took him out of the game.
“They took my temperature but they didn’t give me a chance (to keep playing),” Kirton said. “I tried to hide from them but I was at the point where I was having double vision. Things weren’t going well.”
“I really liked what Johnie did,” Lappano said. “We didn’t quite block the way we wanted to and he got his by his own man. He hit his own teammate pretty good and rocked him to be honest with you.”
Head coach Tyrone Willingham said it’s likely that Kirton would continue to get a chance to play running back on short-yardage and goal line situations, and that’s something Kirton is looking forward to.
“All I can show them is I’m versatile so that they can use me in other situations,” he said.
“I thought he slammed in there pretty good,” Lappano said. “I think that’s something we want to stay with.”
James should return
Lappano said he thinks senior running back Kenny James will play this week after missing last week with a sprained ankle. James is listed as the co-starter with Louis Rankin this week.