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Case Keenum, from two-star HS prospect to Rams starting QB
http://www.downtownrams.com/single-...from-two-star-HS-prospect-to-Rams-starting-QB
August 25, 2016 | By: Jake Ellenbogen
Imagine growing up in one state, going to college in that same state and then playing football in the NFL for that state. Not common right? Well, that would be Case Keenum's football life in a nutshell.
Keenum was born in Brownwood, Texas. He stayed there as long as he could. He attended Wylie high school in Abilene, Texas. He started 42 games at Wylie and accumulated 6,783 yards and 48 touchdowns passing, On top of those lofty statistics he also racked up the rushing yards with 2,000 and 41 rushing touchdowns. He led his school to their only state championship in their history. While he seemed to be the total package at his school's standards he was just one of a million at the position.
The Texas QB was rated a two-star QB prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com. The uncertainty about Keenum showed as only the local Texas teams seemed to even take a look at Keenum or maybe they were the only ones who even knew about him. He received interest from University of Texas El Paso, Baylor, North Texas and Houston. He ended up committing to Houston which was surprisingly the only school out of the bunch to offer Keenum a scholarship.
During his freshman year in 2006 Keenum had to take a backseat behind former NFL starter in his own right -- Kevin Kolb. Due to belief in Keenum, the coaches didn't want to waste anytime and decided to redshirt the freshman.
Kolb went on to the NFL to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and that left a QB competition tied up between the redshirt Freshman Keenum and the Sophomore Blake Joseph who had been waiting in the wings a year before him. Keenum ended up winning the battle due to his superior pocket presence and accuracy even despite the fact he was completely outmatched by Joseph's athleticism and his superior arm strength.
In 2008 the next year Keenum would get into his groove throwing for over 5,000 yards in what was just the second time a Houston QB had accomplished such a feat. The guy before him? Not Kolb believe it or not it was David Klingler from the early 1990's. Keenum would also go on to lead the Cougars to their first bowl game win since 1980, he would also end up winning Conference USA Player of the Year.
The next season Keenum would continue throwing for a massive tally of yards. Unfortunately though come season's end the loss in the bowl game didn't really help his season. Keenum's Junior season ended up ending in horrible fashion, a torn ACL.
Keenum was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA and he led his team to their best season going undefeated and then unfortunately losing in the conference championship game to an Austin Davis led Southern Mississippi squad. Sure, Keenum wanted the championship but his time with Houston wasn't over yet. He led Houston to a bowl game victory over Penn State in the Ticket City Bowl.
After his historic college career came to a close, Keenum signed with his hometown team in the form of the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. Keenum was brought onto the practice squad but shortly after was promoted to the active roster. He would go on to start for the Texans in 2013 in relief for injured QB Matt Schaub and benched T.J. Yates. Head coach at the time Gary Kubiak was a big fan of Keenum.
The next season Kubiak was out and in was former Penn State coach Bill O'Brien. The Texans made a move to acquire the former Arkansas Razorback Ryan Mallett via a trade with the Patriots. Due to this acquisition Keenum was left as the odd man out and was waived, the Rams ended up claiming him off waivers. A couple months after the Rams made a trade for former first-round pick safety Mark Barron and to make room, Keenum was cut.
Read more...
http://www.downtownrams.com/single-...from-two-star-HS-prospect-to-Rams-starting-QB
August 25, 2016 | By: Jake Ellenbogen
Imagine growing up in one state, going to college in that same state and then playing football in the NFL for that state. Not common right? Well, that would be Case Keenum's football life in a nutshell.
Keenum was born in Brownwood, Texas. He stayed there as long as he could. He attended Wylie high school in Abilene, Texas. He started 42 games at Wylie and accumulated 6,783 yards and 48 touchdowns passing, On top of those lofty statistics he also racked up the rushing yards with 2,000 and 41 rushing touchdowns. He led his school to their only state championship in their history. While he seemed to be the total package at his school's standards he was just one of a million at the position.
The Texas QB was rated a two-star QB prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com. The uncertainty about Keenum showed as only the local Texas teams seemed to even take a look at Keenum or maybe they were the only ones who even knew about him. He received interest from University of Texas El Paso, Baylor, North Texas and Houston. He ended up committing to Houston which was surprisingly the only school out of the bunch to offer Keenum a scholarship.
During his freshman year in 2006 Keenum had to take a backseat behind former NFL starter in his own right -- Kevin Kolb. Due to belief in Keenum, the coaches didn't want to waste anytime and decided to redshirt the freshman.
Kolb went on to the NFL to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and that left a QB competition tied up between the redshirt Freshman Keenum and the Sophomore Blake Joseph who had been waiting in the wings a year before him. Keenum ended up winning the battle due to his superior pocket presence and accuracy even despite the fact he was completely outmatched by Joseph's athleticism and his superior arm strength.
In 2008 the next year Keenum would get into his groove throwing for over 5,000 yards in what was just the second time a Houston QB had accomplished such a feat. The guy before him? Not Kolb believe it or not it was David Klingler from the early 1990's. Keenum would also go on to lead the Cougars to their first bowl game win since 1980, he would also end up winning Conference USA Player of the Year.
The next season Keenum would continue throwing for a massive tally of yards. Unfortunately though come season's end the loss in the bowl game didn't really help his season. Keenum's Junior season ended up ending in horrible fashion, a torn ACL.
Keenum was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA and he led his team to their best season going undefeated and then unfortunately losing in the conference championship game to an Austin Davis led Southern Mississippi squad. Sure, Keenum wanted the championship but his time with Houston wasn't over yet. He led Houston to a bowl game victory over Penn State in the Ticket City Bowl.
After his historic college career came to a close, Keenum signed with his hometown team in the form of the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. Keenum was brought onto the practice squad but shortly after was promoted to the active roster. He would go on to start for the Texans in 2013 in relief for injured QB Matt Schaub and benched T.J. Yates. Head coach at the time Gary Kubiak was a big fan of Keenum.
The next season Kubiak was out and in was former Penn State coach Bill O'Brien. The Texans made a move to acquire the former Arkansas Razorback Ryan Mallett via a trade with the Patriots. Due to this acquisition Keenum was left as the odd man out and was waived, the Rams ended up claiming him off waivers. A couple months after the Rams made a trade for former first-round pick safety Mark Barron and to make room, Keenum was cut.
Read more...
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