Five Reasons Why Case Keenum Should Hang Up the Cleats at Houston

Case Keenum was in position to be a Heisman contender and lead his Houston Cougars to an at-large BCS bowl when the season started back in September. Oh what a difference a month makes.

Keenum was lost for the season after a knee injury in the UCLA game back in mid-September. Now he is trying to gain a sixth year of eligibility for the 2011 season.

This begs for discussion as to why Keenum would try to do so, especially since he is slated to graduate in December.

Is a sixth year a good thing?

Is it a bad thing?

Here are five reasons why he should move on with his life after football.

Andre Ware

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2 Dec 1989: Quarterback Andre Ware #11 of the Houston Cougars in action during a game against the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas. The Houston Cougars won the game 64-0.

Andre Ware is perhaps the most famous Houston Cougar player in the school's history. Back in 1989, Ware won the Heisman award with a 4,700-yard 44-TD performance.

Ware would go on to what many feel was a less-than-stellar NFL career with the Lions.

So why is Andre Ware relevant here?

It is simple: He was a system quarterback just like Keenum is. Keenum has ran a pass happy spread offense which has some similarities to the run and shoot. To put it simply, it is not a pro-style offense.

Kevin Sumlin Will Leave

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Houston Cougars during warmups for the game with the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Keenum can attribute much of his success to head coach Kevin Sumlin, who proved his ability to call offensive plays during his final season at Oklahoma. During his final year at OU the offense averaged a whopping 44 points per game.

With all of the potential coaching changes that may happen in the next 5-8 months, look for Sumlin to get his opportunity, an opportunity that will leave Houston and Case Keenum a shell of what they were in 2009.

James Cleveland Will Be Gone

Every top QB needs a top WR to throw the ball to, and James Cleveland was that guy for Keenum.

Cleveland was the 11th player in Cougar history to record a 1,000-yard season a year ago, and many feel he will be headed to Sundays starting in 2011.

If Keenum has no go-to-guy in 2011, why come back at all?

David Piland Will Be Ready

So no one expected David Piland to even see the field in 2010, nevertheless become the starter.

Piland is now the guy at Houston after both Keenum and the No. 2 man, Cotton Turner, both went down.

So far the freshman from Southlake, Texas has thrown for 300+ yards and two scores, despite being so far down on the depth chart that no one had him even playing in 2010.

Look for Piland to pick up some confidence and stats as he leads the Cougars to a C-USA title in 2010.

Money

Even though many feel Keenum is just another system QB, there will be at least a team or two that disagree when the NFL draft comes around.

The bottom line is that $$$$ signs should, and most likely will, end his sixth year at Houston.