John Keenoy, a true freshman on Western Michigan's football team, came to the Broncos a semester earlier than the rest of his class after graduating from East Kentwood High School in December. He came in as an outsider on an established team, but that wasn't even the hardest part for Keenoy.
His father, also named John, was fighting for his life after he was diagnosed with throat cancer.
Fast forward to the start of training camp and Keenoy, along with his Broncos teammates, couldn't be happier with the situation. Keenoy is now the starting center, one of the most important positions for the offense. Keenoy, a 6-foot-2, 282 pound freshman, gives all the credit to his team.
“This team has been like a second family to me,” Keenoy said. “I was going through a tough time when I came here last year and they really helped me through it, the coaches and players are like brothers to me.”
The coaching staff, including head coach P.J. Fleck, admire Keenoy for what he has brought to the team, and at any chance possible they will show that with strong words about Keenoy.
“John Keenoy is the toughest freshman I've ever seen,” Fleck said. “He didn't come in with a specific class so you are kind of an outsider, but to be able to adapt like he did is amazing. His dad has been battling cancer for a year now, and to have all that weight upon his shoulders and the man's becoming a starting center here on top of that is pretty amazing.”
Keenoy, the top-ranked center in the state of Michigan by Detroit News, has helped the Broncos achieve the second consecutive highest-rated recruiting class in the Mid-American Conference. Not just for his strength and talent on the field, but for his exceptional intelligence that helps him excel at the center position.
“John is an elite person and he's everything you are looking for in an offensive lineman; he's tough as nails, he's very smart, and he's very committed,” Broncos offensive line coach Brian Callahan said. “He works harder than anyone in terms of stepping into games and working on the mental part of it.”
This is what makes the young business major, with a 4.0 grade point average, a top-notch center for the Brown and Gold.
“Whenever you bring in on an offensive lineman, you don't know how they will transition from high school to college,” Callahan said. “But John has way exceeded our expectations.”
Keenoy's father is often seen around the football facilities cheering on his son, as he is in much better condition than a year ago. The family from Grand Rapids has stayed positive throughout the whole process, which is an easy task in the company of Keenoy's father.
“When we go around in Grand Rapids he always knows everybody there,” Keenoy said with a smile. “He's always there kissing babies.”
From coming in early to being named the starting center for the Broncos all while his father is battling cancer, Keenoy has remained positive and humble throughout his short journey at WMU. According to Fleck, Keenoy will never be the one to show what he is going through.
“If you talked to him you wouldn't even know any of that, you would just think he's on the football team with no issues or problems going on,” Fleck said. “He's got a wonderful support system around him filled with incredible teammates and coaching staff. We are family here and one thing about us is were here for each other through thick and thin.”
Keenoy will start his first career college football game in one of the most anticipated games in WMU history as the Broncos start the season off with a high-caliber opponent in no. 5 ranked Michigan State on Sept. 4 at Waldo Stadium. The Broncos team, the fans, and especially Keenoy's father, will all be out to cheer number-52 on in his first game.
