December 1, 2009
NationalChamps.net releases 3rd annual Underdog Award
GIVEN TO THE NATION'S BEST MID-MAJOR PLAYER

In an effort to bring media attention to those players from smaller schools that are too often overlooked for the HEISMAN and other major awards, NationalChamps.net presents our third annual UNDERDOG AWARD to recognize the best FBS Mid-Major player in the nation. In evaluating the rich talent found throughout the 54 schools not aligned in BCS conferences, our commitment to finding overall excellence in college football remains at the forefront of our efforts.

The 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Finalists are four outstanding student-athletes who have proven themselves through superior play at all levels of competition. NationalChamps.net initially chose 55 for our 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Preseason Watch List, which was primarily based upon those players’ 2008 performances. The 13 Semifinalists were revealed last week, and we have now chosen the best of the best. These candidates garner superlatives and statistics that place them amongst college football’s best at any level. We happily recognize their achievements both on and off of the field of play, which exemplify the UNDERDOG AWARD’s integrity and aim.

The Finalists
In leading his team to the Conference USA’s West Division title and their current No.21 BCS ranking, Houston Cougar junior quarterback Case Keenum has amassed one of the most intimidating single-season stat sheets ever. Keenum, a somewhat unheralded two-star recruit out of Wylie High School in Abilene, again leads the nation (as does the Houston offense) in total offense, and his 4,922 passing yards are over 1,000 more than the next best FBS total. Note how Keenum has more pass attempts (584) than anyone else, but still is one of four players to complete over 70% of his throws (70.55%) as he also has both the nation’s fourth-lowest interception percentage (1.03) and the fourth-best passing efficiency rating (160.76). Keenum’s 38 passing TDs tie him with fellow 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Finalist Kellen Moore for the national lead in that category, but Keenum’s four rushing TDs make him responsible for more points per game (21.33) than any other FBS player. With their two huge non-conference road wins – against the SEC’s Mississippi State and Big 12 powerhouse Oklahoma State, Kinesiology major and 2008 CUSA All-Academic Casey Austin Keenum leads his Cougars back into the Conference USA Championship Game this weekend for the first time since 2006. Eight total points in two heartbreaking losses are all that separate Houston from a perfect season, and Keenum’s efforts are the main reason he and his teammates are poised for possibly their school’s best finish ever.

As team leaders go, sophomore Boise State field general Kellen Moore’s spotless 12-0 record proves how unstoppable he is as a starter (24-1 over his two campaigns). Moore also impresses through sheer numbers – he easily leads the nation with a 168.74 rating, is tied for the national lead (with Keenum) for passing TDs (his 38 is now the new team single-season record) and is responsible for the second-most points (19.83 per game), and by leading the nation in that all-important category of least times sacked (four), Moore proves an intangible few other passers can match. Last year’s WAC Freshman of the Year and a former prep Gatorade Player of the Year in his home state of Washington (Prosser), the Bronco’s southpaw hurler has his team again knocking on the BCS door with their current No.6 ranking. At a school where ‘the bar’ of quarterback quality has been set so high, Moore could rewrite most of State’s records as he continues to get better each game.

Fresno State junior Ryan Mathews is the nation’s top rusher (149.1 yards per game), but that’s nothing new for the Bakersfield product (West) who was also America’s top rusher as a senior at the prep level. Until his recent concussion injury (versus Nevada), Mathews had gained at least 100 yards in every game this season. Moreover, Mathews has proven himself time and time again against the Bulldog’s top foes – he had 107 yards against Wisconsin’s No.12 rushing defense, 234 yards against 12-0 Boise State’s No.16 total defense (with TD runs of 69, 68 and 60 yards), and 145 yards against the perfect Cincinnati Bearcat’s No.19 scoring D. Fresno State is one of five offenses in the nation to average 200 yards per game in both rushing and passing, and arguably both Fresno’s No.7 rushing offense and the entire Bulldog attack “runs” through their vaunted workhorse. The school’s No. 3 all-time career rusher (needs 510 yards to break Don River’s record) has a serious stiff-arm that hurts potential tacklers. At 220 lbs and with breakaway, game-changing speed, Mathews is a sure bet to suit up on Sundays.

Our final 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD Finalist is rewriting the NCAA (FBS) record book more than any other candidate. Bowling Green junior wideout Freddie Barnes easily has the nation’s most catches (138) as well as the most receiving TDs (18), so he is currently five receptions short of passing Houston Cougar Manny Hazard’s 20-year old all-time single-season record of 142. The Chicago Heights native also nearly broke the single game all-time reception record (23 by Randy Gatewood of UNLV in 1994 vs. Idaho) with his 22-catch performance against Kent State – and if it weren’t for a shoulder injury last year and his initial tenure at QB as a freshman, Barnes career total (281) would be primed to break Taylor Stubblefield’s four-year mark (318). Always seeing double- and triple-teams, Barnes has won the nation’s weekly College Football Performance Award for the country’s best wide receiver three times this year, but his 12.8 average on punt returns and two rushing TDs prove that Barnes is a weapon the Falcons will employ as often as possible. Bowling Green’s current streak – winning four in a row and six of their last seven contests – ostensibly is due to Barnes’ production.

We will name the winner of the 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD after Championship Weekend on Wednesday December 9, 2009.

PRESEASON WATCH LIST (released April 15, 2009)
SEMIFINALISTS (released November 23, 2009)


Semifinalists: Monday, Nov. 23, 2009
Finalists: Tuesday, Dec.1, 2009
Winner: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009

ARCHIVE LINKS
2008 Winner: QB Chase Clement - Rice
2007 Winner: QB Colt Brennan - Hawai'i
NationalChamps.net 2009 UNDERDOG AWARD FINALISTS
WR Freddie Barnes - Bowling Green
Class: Senior
Height: 6-0 Weight: 206
Hometown: Chicago Hts., IL
Team Record: 7-5
Receiving
REC YDS AVG/CATCH TD
* 138 1551 11.2 16
* currently five receptions short of passing Houston Cougar Manny Hazard’s 20-year old all-time single-season record of 142
Game Log .. Receiving
DATE & OPP
RESULT
REC
YDS
TD
9/3 Troy
Won 31-14
15
157
2
9/12 @ Missouri
Lost 20-27
10
70
0
9/19 @ Marshall
Lost 10-17
17
109
0
9/26 Boise State
Lost 14-49
4
24
0
10/3 Ohio
Lost 37-44
7
84
0
10/10 @ Kent State
Won 36-35
22
278
3
10/17 @ Ball State
Won 31-17
10
160
3
10/24 Central Michigan
Lost 10-24
14
172
1
11/3 @ Buffalo
Won 30-29
8
122
1
11/12 @ Miami OH
Won 35-14
10
109
2
11/20 Akron
Won 36-20
12
197
2
11/27 Toledo
Won 38-24
9
69
2
 
QB Case Keenum - Houston
Class: Junior
Height: 6-2 Weight: 210
Hometown: Abilene, TX
Team Record: 10-2
Passing
Rushing
CMP ATT YDS CMP% TD INT EFFICIENCY ATT YDS AVG TD
412 584 4922 70.5 38 6 160.8 49 120 2.4 4
Game Log .. Passing Rushing
DATE & OPP
RESULT
CMP
ATT
YDS
TD
INT
ATT
YDS
TD
9/5 Northwestern State
Won 55-7
23
30
359
4
0
2
0
1
9/12 @ Oklahoma State
Won 45-35
32
46
366
3
1
5
16
1
9/26 Texas Tech
Won 29-28
38
58
435
1
1
8
27
1
10/3 @ UTEP
Lost 41-58
51
76
536
5
0
3
8
0
10/10 @ Mississippi State
Won 31-24
39
52
434
4
2
3
13
0
10/17 @ Tulane
Won 44-16
33
46
371
2
0
2
12
0
10/24 SMU
Won 38-15
25
36
233
1
0
7
-12
0
10/31 Southern Miss
Won 50-43
44
54
559
5
1
5
10
0
11/7 @ Tulsa
Won 46-45
40
60
524
3
0
6
21
0
11/14 @ UCF
Lost 32-37
33
56
377
3
1
5
8
0
11/21 Memphis
Won 55-14
29
39
405
5
0
1
9
0
11/28 Rice
Won 73-14
25
31
323
2
0
2
8
1
 
RB Ryan Mathews - Fresno State
Class: Junior
Height: 5-11 Weight: 220
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Team Record: 7-4
Rushing Receiving
ATT YDS AVG TD REC YDS AVG TD
213 1491 7.0 14 11 122 11.1 0
Game Log .. Rushing Receiving
DATE & OPP
RESULT
ATT
YDS
TD
REC
YDS
TD
9/5 UC Davis Won 51-0 11 106 1 0 0 0
9/12 @ Wisconsin Lost 31-34 19 107 0 2 9 0
9/18 Boise State Lost 34-51 19 234 3 0 0 0
9/26 @ Cincinnati Lost 20-28 38 145 1 2 32 0
10/10 @ Hawai'i Won 42-17 24 149 1 0 0 0
10/17 San Jose State Won 41-21 20 233 1 0 0 0
10/24 @ New Mexico State Won 34-3 25 157 2 1 27 0
10/31 Utah State Won 31-27 23 185 2 2 26 0
11/7 @ Idaho Won 31-21 26 143 3 3 18 0
11/14 @ Nevada Lost 14-52 8 32 0 1 10 0
11/21 Louisiana Tech Won 30-28 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
QB Kellen Moore - Boise State
Class: Sophomore
Height: 6-0 Weight: 187
Hometown: Prosser, WA
Team Record: 12-0
Passing
Rushing
CMP ATT YDS CMP% TD INT EFFICIENCY ATT YDS AVG TD
235 362 3053 64.9 38 3 168.7 23 -4 -0.2 1
Game Log .. Passing Rushing
DATE & OPP
RESULT
CMP
ATT
YDS
TD
INT
ATT
YDS
TD
9/3 Oregon
Won 19-8
19
29
197
1
0
7
-6
0
9/12 Miami OH
Won 48-0
16
25
307
4
1
0
0
0
9/18 @ Fresno State
Won 51-34
18
26
181
3
0
2
4
0
9/26 @ Bowling Green
Won 49-14
17
21
247
2
0
0
0
0
10/3 UC Davis
Won 34-16
22
31
285
3
1
2
-10
0
10/14 @ Tulsa
Won 28-21
22
32
187
3
0
3
3
0
10/24 @ Hawai'i
Won 54-9
18
30
223
5
0
1
-2
0
10/31 San Jose State
Won 45-7
21
33
278
3
0
5
2
1
11/6 @ Louisiana Tech
Won 45-35
28
41
354
3
1
0
0
0
11/14 Idaho
Won 63-25
22
32
299
5
0
1
2
0
11/20 @ Utah State
Won 52 21
15
29
233
1
0
1
1
0
11/27 Nevada
Won 44-33
17
33
262
5
0
1
2
0