Case Keenum

Casey Austin "Case" Keenum (born February 17, 1988) is an American football quarterback who is currently on the Houston Texans practice squad. Keenum is the NCAA's all-time leader in total passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. On October 22, 2011, Keenum became the Football Bowl Subdivision's all-time leader in total offense. On October 27, 2011, Keenum became the all-time leader in total touchdown passes by an FBS quarterback. During that game he threw for nine touchdowns and 534 yards.

In the 2008 college football season, Keenum ranked first nationally in total offense and second in total passing yards. As a result of his on-field contributions to Houston's success, Keenum was named to several All-American lists. He is the only quarterback in Division I FBS football history to have passed for more than 5,000 yards in each of three seasons.

High school career
Keenum played football for Wylie High School in Abilene, Texas. During his high school career, he passed for 6,783 yards and 48 touchdowns and rushed for 41 touchdowns and 2,000 yards. Logging 42 starts at quarterback, Keenum posted a career record of 31–11. In 2004, Keenum led Wylie in the game-winning drive for a 17-14 victory over Cuero High School of Cuero, Texas in the Texas Class 3A Division I championship game. This is Wylie's only state championship to date as of the end of the 2012 season. In addition to being recruited by Houston, Keenum was recruited by Baylor, North Texas, and UTEP, although Houston was the only university to offer a scholarship. Keenum also earned varsity letters in basketball and track during his high school career.

2006 season
Keenum began his college career at the University of Houston during the 2006 season. During his freshman season, decorated senior Kevin Kolb held the starting quarterback position for the Cougars, leading the coaching staff to redshirt Keenum for the season. The 2006 Cougars won the Conference USA championship, and Kolb was drafted by the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.

2007 season
In fall camp before the 2007 season, the Cougars held a de facto quarterback competition to fill the starting spot vacated by the departure of four-year starter Kevin Kolb. The competition swung between Keenum and sophomore Blake Joseph throughout two-a-days and during much of the season, with each player displaying a different set of strengths and weaknesses. Keenum made his first collegiate appearance on September 1, 2007 when the Cougars opened the season at the Oregon Ducks. He threw for 179 yards and a touchdown on 14-of-27 passing and added 47 rushing yards on nine carries against the Ducks. Against C-USA rival Tulane Green Wave in the second game, Keenum threw for 185 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-21 passing, leading Houston to a 34–10 win. In the third game of the year against the Colorado State Rams, Keenum came on in relief of starter Blake Joseph and accounted for four touchdowns. For this performance, Keenum was recognized as CollegeSportsReport.com's Division I FBS National Performer of the Week. Keenum played at quarterback in all thirteen games of the season, starting in seven. Late in the season, the UH coaching staff finally tabbed Keenum to be the regular starting quarterback over Blake Joseph. Keenum’s outstanding pocket presence and efficient passing won out in the end over Joseph’s stronger arm and running ability.

2008 season
During the 2008 season, Keenum became the second player in school history to complete over 5,000 passing yards in one season. He also led the nation in total offense, and was the national runner-up in passing yards, behind Texas Tech's Graham Harrell. The Houston Cougars would show many signs of improvement as a whole, as they won their first bowl game since 1980 with a win over Air Force, and defeated two nationally ranked opponents. Following the season, Keenum would win the 2008 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year award.

2009 season
Keenum led the Houston Cougars to a 10–4 record in 2009. Keenum finished the 2009 season with 48 total touchdowns and over 5800 total offensive yards. His play helped Houston upset then #5-ranked Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and later Mississippi State. Houston played East Carolina on the road in the Conference USA Championship, but lost the game in the final minute. Houston faced Air Force in a rematch of the previous year's Armed Forces Bowl. However, this time, Air Force emerged victorious. In cold, windy conditions, Keenum threw 6 interceptions in the game, and was held to only one touchdown. Keenum finished the season, though, with over 5800 yards of total offense and 48 touchdowns.

2010 season
Keenum was in a position to challenge more than one major NCAA division one passing record at the start of the 2010 season, including career passing yards and touchdowns. However, after throwing for a total of 636 passing yards and three touchdowns in three games, Keenum tore his ACL during the Cougars' third game of the season against UCLA. The injury ended Keenum's season and Houston would finish 5-7.

Leads active FBS QB's in career completion percentage.

2011 season
On January 14, 2011, the NCAA granted Keenum a sixth year of eligibility. Prior to the 2011 season, he was named the 2011 Conference USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the third year in a row. On October 27, 2011, Keenum set the all time passing touchdowns record by throwing for 9 touchdowns against Rice On November 19, 2011, Keenum set the record for career completions in a 37-7 win over SMU. The Cougars had a record of 12-0 coming into the Conference USA Championship. However, the Cougars were defeated by Southern Miss by a score of 49-28. Keenum completed 41 of 67 pass attempts for 373 yards through the air, two touchdown passes, and two interceptions. After the loss, Houston played Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl. They won by a score of 30-14. Keenum passed for 532 yards, and threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

College awards

 * 2007 Conference USA Freshman of the Year
 * 2008 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year
 * 2009 Finalist, Davey O' Brien Award
 * 2009 Finalist, Walter Camp Award
 * 2009 Conference USA Most Valuable Player
 * 2009 Sammy Baugh Trophy
 * 2011 Finalist, Davey O' Brien Award
 * 2011 Sammy Baugh Trophy
 * 2011 Conference USA Most Valuable Player
 * 2011 Premier Player of College Football Trophy

2012 NFL Draft
Despite his many awards and success in college, Keenum was projected as a late draft pick, with the major factors for his low stock being undersized at 6 feet, a possibility to only be able to play in a spread offense, and was granted a medical redshirt twice in his college career. After Keenum went undrafted, he chose to stay close to home and signed with the Houston Texans. He was later placed on the Texans practice squad.

Personal life
Case Keenum spent his childhood in Abilene, Texas, and is the son of Steve Keenum who served as an offensive lineman and later as head football coach and athletic director at McMurry. The elder Keenum, known for an aggressive passing offensive strategy, was also head coach at Sul Ross State, offensive coordinator at Tarleton State, and offensive line coach at Hardin-Simmons.

Keenum, a Christian, married the former Kimberly Caddell in June 2011; Kimberly is also a native of Abilene, Texas.