Top 30 Most Overlooked High School Recruits to Go Pro Since 2000
By Zach Bigalke
Despite starting three years at quarterback for Wylie High School in Abilene, Texas, Case Keenum never did get much of a look from the schools in the Lone Star State. A 31-11 record as a high school starter, nearly 9000 combined passing and rushing yards, and 89 total touchdowns seemed to offer little traction. Not even leading the Bulldogs to their only 3A Texas state championship in history was enough to merit much notice. The two-star recruit ended up taking the only scholarship offer he received from Art Briles at Houston.
Keenum redshirted as a freshman in 2006, but once Kevin Kolb graduated the door opened. He was far more of a running threat for Briles before the head coach left for Baylor after the 2007 regular seaosn. Under new head coach and former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin, everything changed for Keenum. He threw for over 5000 yards and 44 touchdowns in both 2008 and 2009, winning 18 games in two years. A torn ACL took Keenum out early in 2010, but a medical exemption allowed him to return for a second chance at a senior year in 2011. He nearly helped the Cougars bust the BCS as a senior, and he landed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans.