University of Houston Athletics
Keenum Named Unitas Award Finalist
10/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 19, 2011
Houston, Texas - University of Houston record-setting quarterback Case Keenum was named a finalist for the 2011 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award on Wednesday. One of 10 quarterbacks selected, Keenum needs just 130 yards of offense on Saturday vs. Marshall to break the NCAA's all-time total offense record.
The Unitas Award is named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play football and the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica.
In addition to Keenum, other finalists for the award include: Nick Foles, Arizona; Robert Griffin III, Baylor; Landry Jones, Oklahoma; Andrew Luck, Stanford; Kellen Moore, Boise State; Ryan Tannehill, Texas A & M, Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State; Russell Wilson, Wisconsin and Tyler Wilson, Arkansas.
Keenum has led Houston to an undefeated 6-0 start and has the Cougars ranked #19 in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings. The Abilene, Texas, native leads the country in total offense (388.8) and his high-powered offensive unit leads the nation with 603.7 total yards per game.
The senior is also on the verge of breaking the NCAA's all-time passing yardage and touchdown passes record. He needs 1,178 yards to surpass Timmy Chang's (Hawaii) career record of 17,072 passing yards and needs 11 more TD passes to top Graham Harrell's (Texas Tech) career mark of 134 scores. Keenum currently has 15,895 career passing yards and 124 career passing scores.
Candidates for the Golden Arm Award must be completing their college eligibility or be a fourth-year junior, on schedule to graduate with his class. Candidates are judged upon character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic accomplishments.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented on Friday, December 9 at the Intercontinental Harbor Court, 550 Light Street in downtown Baltimore.
For more information, visit www.goldenarmfoundation.com.
