Case Keenum's Exhibition in Dominating Houston Victory

Let it be known that on October 27th, 2011, the ever impressive Case Keenum threw for 534 yards.

Oh yeah, he also had nine touchdown passes.

Granted it was against the lowly Rice Owls in Conference-USA play, but do not let that diminish the insurmountable records Keenum is approaching this season. 

Today's Rice game was not the first display of dominance shown by the Houston quarterback.  In fact, Keenum already holds the record for the most passing touchdowns thrown in FBS history, with 139 tosses dating back to his first year playing in 2007.

With today's game, he also now needs just 130 yards to break the NCAA career all-purpose yard mark, set by Timothy Chang of Hawaii. 

But where does Keenum's career lead?  What sort of future does a C-USA quarterback have in professional football?

His inexperience at higher levels of football will surely knock him down a few slots, but there is no way a young man with the numbers of Keenum doesn't get drafted.

My eyes lead me to believe that the 23-year-old is a sharp passer with an excellent arm, but every time I look back at the competition he faces, and every time I look at the names his records associate him with, I can't help but think that he doesn't stand a chance in the NFL. 

Who is Timothy Chang? How far has Colt Brennan gone in the NFL? How few college greats transcend the plateau of amateur excellence to professional dominance? 

The answer, put simply, is few.

But that's based on history.  My head tells me that he will fail, as do most small conference quarterbacks.  But there's a time and a place for one to succeed.  And my eyes tell me Keenum could be the one that breaks the trend of failure. 

So good luck to Keenum, who is no doubt thinking about how to finish out Houston's season undefeated, with a small shot at a BCS bowl. 

But what he needs to be thinking about, even more than that, is how he can impress NFL scouts.