Thundering Herd’s Curry voted C-USA preseason defensive player of the year

Published 12:46 am Friday, July 29, 2011

The Associated Press

IRVING, Texas — Houston senior quarterback Case Keenum was named Conference USA’s preseason offensive player of the year after missing most of 2010 with a knee injury.

Keenum was awarded a sixth year of eligibility after tearing his ACL during the Cougars’ third game of the season against UCLA. He was C-USA’s Most Valuable Player in 2009 after throwing for 5,671 yards.

Email newsletter signup

His 14,448 yards of total offense, 13,586 passing yards, 107 touchdown passes and 1,118 completions all rank in the NCAA’s career top 10.

Marshall senior defensive end Vinny Curry was named the preseason defensive player of the year, while Tulsa senior return specialist Damaris Johnson was named preseason special teams player of the year.

Curry has been named to several preseason All-American teams by various publications.

The awards were chosen by C-USA’s 12 head coaches.