Case Keenum: Preseason C-USA Offensive Player of the Year

Case Keenum’s big comeback attempt, which we chronicled as spring practice began in April, is apparently destined for success if the coaches of COnference USA are right.

They chose the UH quarterback as pre-season Offensive Player of the Year as part of the media days.

In one sense, it’s an easy pick — Keenum was the 2009 C-USA MVP. On the other hand, he’s coming back from a devastating injury, and a lot remains to be seen.

Six other Coogs made one of the pre-season first-team all-stars, as did Rice punter Kyle Martens:

2011 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year
Case Keenum, Sr., QB, Houston

Defensive Player of the Year Vinny Curry, Sr., DE, Marshall

Special Teams Player of the Year Damaris Johnson, Sr., KR/PR, Tulsa

First Team Offense QB Case Keenum, Sr., Houston
RB Bryce Beall, Sr., Houston RB Zach Line, Jr., SMU
OL Clint Anderson, Sr., Tulsa
OL Kelvin Beachum, Sr., SMU
OL Matt McCants, Sr., UAB
OL Nick Pieschel, Sr., UCF
OL Chris Thompson, Sr., Houston
WR Patrick Edwards, Sr., Houston WR Damaris Johnson, Sr., Tulsa
WR Lance Lewis, Sr., East Carolina
TE Adam Nissley, Sr., UCF

First Team Defense DL Vinny Curry, Sr., Marshall
DL Elliott Henigan, Sr., UAB
DL Cordarro Law, Sr., Southern Miss
DL Taylor Thompson, Sr., SMU
LB Ja’Gared Davis, Jr., SMU
LB Trent Mackey, Jr., Tulane
LB Marcus McGraw, Sr., Houston LB Korey Williams, Sr., Southern Miss
DB Emanuel Davis, Sr., East Carolina
DB Kemal Ishmael, Jr., UCF
DB Marco Nelson, So., Tulsa
DB Josh Robinson, Jr., UCF

First Team Special Teams K Danny Hrapmann, Sr., Southern Miss
P Kyle Martens, Sr., Rice
KR Quincy McDuffie, Jr., UCF
PR Patrick Edwards, Sr., Houston PR Damaris Johnson, Sr., Tulsa