December 8, 2011
NationalChamps.net releases 5th annual Underdog Award
GIVEN TO THE NATION'S BEST MID-MAJOR PLAYER

Case Keenum Wins NationalChamps.net’s 2011 UNDERDOG AWARD

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Case Keenum is having one of the greatest senior seasons in NCAA history. This record-setting campaign for the Houston Cougar caps a trying-but-stellar career that sees Keenum finishing on top of the College Football world.

Originally a modest two-star dual-threat prospect from rural Wylie High School in Abilene (TX), Case has steadily developed into this year’s premier FBS passer. Setting the school’s single season record for wins (12 and counting), Keenum surpassed Kevin Kolb as the Cougar’s all-time winningest starter, going 36-14 overall (23-2 at home) and boasting a solid 22-5 since 2009 (excluding his redshirt in 2010). After tearing his ACL in the third game of 2010 and missing the rest of last year, much hard work in the 2011 off-season has seen the Cougar signal caller setting multiple NCAA marks, least of all becoming the first quarterback in FBS history to have three consecutive seasons of 5,000+ passing yards. Keenum now owns the bulk of the career records at this top level - for passing yards (18,685), total offense (19,572), passing TDs (151), total TDs (175), completions (1,501), and 300-yard games (38). Still, it’s how well “Sweet Feet” has done as a senior that earns Case the 2011 UNDERDOG AWARD – 5,099 passing yards eclipses (by nearly 800 yards) the next closest hurler (Nick Foles, Arizona has 4,334). His 5,124 total yards also lead the country (no other player has 4,650), as do his 45 passing TDs, how many points CK’s responsible for (292), and his miniscule 0.94 interception percentage. No one throwing over 400 pass attempts had less than Case’s five INTs (Keenum has 534 pass attempts), nor has any other FBS quarterback passed for 300 yards in every 2011 game like Keenum. In the Rice game, Case threw for an eye-popping nine scoring TDs, right after he had six the prior week versus Marshall. Currently ranked third in the FBS in pass efficiency (177.87 rating), Keenum is the kind of savvy on-field general who does whatever it takes to win, the most important category in this team sport. Keenum had Houston 12-0 and staring down an ever-elusive BCS Bowl bid until their disappointing 49-28 loss in the C-USA Conference finale to Southern Mississippi (he hadn’t lost at home since his second home start in 2007).

Case also impresses as a scholar-athlete – having graduated in 2010 with a bachelors in kinesiology-sports administration and a minor in business administration, Case is currently pursuing his masters in physical education and has posted a 3.8 GPA on his way to earning Academic All-Conference honors for the second time. In the end, they might want to nickname him “Trophy Case” once all of this year’s accolades finally are amassed – so far, the Sammy Baugh Award (Keenum is only the second person to ever win the Sammy Baugh twice from the Columbus (OH) Downtown Athletic Club) joins the 2011 UNDERDOG AWARD as the preliminary feathers in his proverbial cap. But with Keenum a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and countless others, one can only guess how much recognition he deserves and will ultimately receive.

The 2011 UNDERDOG AWARD Finalists (announced December 1, 2011)
FINALISTS (released December 1, 2011)
QB Chandler Harnish - Senior - Northern Illinois
QB Case Keenum - Senior - Houston
QB Kellen Moore - Senior - Boise State
WR Jordan White - Senior - Western Michigan

PRESEASON WATCH LIST (released August 24, 2011)
SEMIFINALISTS (released November 21, 2011)

From Abilene, Texas, Case Keenum is the 2011 UNDERDOG AWARD winner, and he embodies the fighting competitive spirit this award recognizes in rewarding big play from student-athletes at smaller FBS programs.