University of Houston Athletics
Keenum Racks Up Another Preseason Honor
8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Houston, Texas - University of Houston junior quarterback Case Keenum was among the 55 players that comprise the watch list for the 73rd Maxwell Award, as announced today by the Maxwell Football Club. The Maxwell Award is presented to the Outstanding Player in college football and the list is comprised of those players who were selected based on their performance during the 2008 season.
The Maxwell Award has been presented since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell. The Maxwell Football Club, founded in 1935, is based in Philadelphia, Penn., and is the oldest football club in the United States.
Keenum was the 2008 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year and was selected to repeat that honor in 2009, according to the league's head coaches. He led Houston to eight wins and a victory in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl last season, the school's fourth straight bowl game and its first postseason win since 1981. Keenum passed for more than 300 yards in all but one game of the season, leading the nation in total offense (5,241 yards), while ranking second in passing yards (5,020) and third in passing touchdowns (44).
The 2007 C-USA Freshman of the Year completed better than 67 percent of his passes (397-of-589) and averaged 403.2 yards per game. With Keenum at the controls, the Cougars ranked second in the FBS in total offense at 569.9 yards per game, while averaging 40.6 points per game.
Earlier this month, Keenum was named to the Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award watch list and is joined by teammates Carl Barnett (Rimington Award) and Tyron Carrier (Biletnikoff Award) on preseason watch lists.
Tim Tebow of the University of Florida was the recipient of the 72nd Maxwell Award his outstanding performance during the 2008 season. Tebow, the first sophomore to ever win the Maxwell Award, and also only the second two time winner of the award returns for his senior season with the Gators.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced on November 4th and three finalists for each award will be announced November 23rd. The winner of the 2009 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show which will be held on December 10, 2009. The formal presentation of these awards will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala hosted by Harrah's Entertainment Atlantic City on March 5, 2010.
The watch list candidates have been chosen by the Maxwell Football Club's Selection Committee and the Maxwell Club reserves the right to make additions and subtractions to these lists as the 2009 season unfolds. All members of the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA Sports Information Directors, Head Coaches and selected national media are eligible to vote for these awards.
