MEMPHIS (AP)—Houston coach Kevin Sumlin sat down for breakfast with his star quarterback Case Keenum on Sunday morning. Very quickly, he realized their conversation was unlike most between a college coach and player.
“He’s a grown man,” Sumlin said laughing. “He’s married. He’s graduated from college. He’s got all the same problems that somebody like me or you has.”
Such are the luxuries of having a 23-year-old, sixth-year quarterback. And while Keenum might have some new grown-up problems, so do opposing defenses in Conference USA after the NCAA granted the prolific passer another season.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Keenum headlines a deep and talented group of quarterbacks in Conference USA, several of whom gathered on Sunday for Conference USA Media Day. Tulsa senior G.J. Kinne, who was C-USA’s offensive player of the year last season, returns after throwing for 3,650 yards and 31 touchdowns. So does Central Florida’s Jeff Godfrey, the conference freshman of the year who threw for 2,159 yards and 13 touchdowns as the Knights won the championship.
But no one’s resume can touch Keenum’s. He already ranks in the NCAA career top 10 with 14,448 career yards of total offense, 13,586 passing yards, 107 touchdown passes and 1,118 pass completions. He’s one of only two players in Division I history to have multiple 5,000-yard passing seasons.
“He’s just a surgeon with the football,” Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship said. “And when he lines up on the field, his team believes in him. You can feel it. He’s got the kind of presence you want in a quarterback.”
Keenum was granted a sixth season by the NCAA after tearing his ACL against UCLA in the third game of last season on Sept. 18. He wasn’t able to go through spring practice, but says the knee is nearing full strength.
“It’s obviously not the knee that God gave me anymore,” Keenum said. “It’s got some modifications, courtesy of my doctors. But honestly, I think it’s stronger. The further along I go, the more it gets to being my normal knee.”
Sumlin said he won’t push Keenum during preseason practice because he knows what the veteran brings to the offense.
“There’s three ways that I evaluate quarterbacks—accuracy, game management and his ability to make and extend plays,” Sumlin said. “If you’ve got a guy who can do two out of those three things, you’ve got yourself a really good player. If you’ve got a guy who can do all three, you’ve got yourself a superstar like Case.”
Keenum’s return should help push Houston back into C-USA’s elite. After the quarterback’s knee injury last season, the Cougars struggled to a 5-7 record.
But with Keenum back under center, the Cougars can go back to the punishing offensive pace that buried opponents in 2009, when Keenum threw for 5,671 yards, the third highest total in Football Bowl Subdivision history.
“As much as it means to us, it probably means even more for him,” Sumlin said. “The sound of his voice when I called to tell him the news was unbelievable. He’s truly grateful for the opportunity. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
By DAVID BRANDT, AP Sports Writer
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