Since no media outlet is going to praise Arizona State Quarterback Sam Keller, I thought as an Alumni and avid writer that I should be the one to do it. He has gotten some recognition but nowhere near the likes of Omar Jacobs, Brady Quinn, Brian Brohm, or Chris Leak.
Keller joined the Sun Devils as a freshman in the fall of 2003. Originally he had verbally committed to go to Michigan where his father was an All-American, but he changed his mind and decided to go to ASU. What a break for the Sun Devils.
When Keller joined the Sun Devils he was learning from one of the best Pac-10 quarterbacks ever in Andrew Walter. Watching Walter play for 2 years must have taken a lot of patience, but it probably made him a better quarterback. This was evident not only with the numbers he has put up this year, but what he did when Walter got injured in the last game of 2004.
During the last game of 2004 in the rivalry game between Arizona State and the University of Arizona, Andrew Walter got injured late in the game with a dislocated shoulder. Some quarterbacks would be terrified to walk into a game that they were trailing late in the fourth quarter. But Keller came in poised to lead a comeback and Arizona State to victory.
Keller marched the team down the field for a touchdown immediately after coming off the bench. After a defensive stop Keller took the ball deep into Uof A territory only to have a dropped pass on 4th and 8 that sealed the game for the Wildcats. Although he was unsuccessful in this games comeback he would do it again in the Sun Bowl against Purdue.
With Purdue leading late in the 4th Keller again led his team down the field with little time remaining. There was no dropped pass this time as Keller connected with Rudy Burgess on a touchdown scoring screen. Keller in that game went 25-45 for 370 yards, with 3 touchdowns, no picks, and was the MVP of the Sun Bowl. This in his first career start against a good Purdue defense.
Many were curious if this was a fluke and if Sam Keller could fill the shoes of Andrew Walter. Well he is not only filling those shoes, but he is busting threw the laces and looking to trade them in for a pair of glass slippers. He and the rest of the Sun Devils are hoping that this could be a Cinderella story year for them.
Keller is clearly the on-field and off-field leader of this team. Unlike Walter who was very stoic during games, Keller wears his passion on his sleeve and the entire team seems to feed off it. But in ways he is just like Walter, mainly in his ability to put up some big numbers.
In the first game of the year against Temple, Keller threw for 204 yards, with 4 touchdowns and 2 picks. Decent numbers considering it was against Temple, but the main thing was that ASU ran for over 300 yards in this game. His next game would be the biggest challenge of his early career.
According to Keller LSU was “The fastest and best defense” he had ever seen. Some quarterbacks might be frightened to face one of the toughest defenses in the nation. Not Keller.
Keller nearly led the Sun Devils to victory over not only one of the best teams in the country but a team playing with an entire country in its corner. ASU was leading 17-7 going into the 4th quarter when LSU had a blocked field goal and punt returned for touchdowns.
The game would go back and forth up until 1:15 seconds left on a 4th and 10 when Jemarcus Russell heaved a ball up into the endzone for a touchdown to Early Doucet. Again the Sun Devils could have thrown in the towel, but Keller was poised to lead his team to a victory.
Keller connected on two passes for a total of 55 yards to get the Sun Devils to the LSU 28. This time Keller was unable to rally his team to a victory, but it was evident that Keller in any game against any team will be able to thrive in the face of pressure. Keller went 35-56 for 461 yard 4 touchdowns and no picks against what many consider to be the best defense in the land.
Against Northwestern Keller had a truly amazing day as he threw for 406 yards, 4 touchdowns and again no interceptions. 343 of those 406 yards came in the first half. ASU beat up on Northwestern 52-21 and look great as they head into Pac-10 play.
So far this year Keller has thrown for 1,078 yards, 12 touchdowns (with only 2 interceptions), numbers that are better than all those listed above him in the Heisman race including Matt Leinart
The bottom line is this; Keller deserves to be hailed as much or more than any QB in the land besides Matt Leinart. If he was at Miami, or FSU, or Florida, or Texas he would be right besides Leinart in the race for the Heisman. But nobody hears about his stellar play and nobody sees it. Just remember; just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.