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Former ASU QB Sam Keller (Merged)

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Supposedly the story goes that the competition was close, but Koetter went with the senior over the soph. Carpenter threatened to transfer, and rather than losing a potential 3-year QB, he caved to the pressure and ended up losing the senior instead. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't consult any of the players in the matter.
 
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Apparently it is definitely Nebraska, if ESPN reports it you can always believe it. <-- sarcasm font

Source: ASU's Keller will enroll at Nebraska

ESPN.com news services
Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller is expected to enroll at Nebraska, a source close to Keller told ESPN.com's Joe Schad on Tuesday.
ncf_u_keller_275.jpg

Rick Scuteri/US Presswire
Sam Keller, seen here during an Arizona State scrimmage, was one of the top-rated passers in Division I-A in 2005 before he got hurt.





An official announcement is expected Thursday. Keller, who was named the Sun Devils' starting quarterback on Friday only to lose the job to sophomore Rudy Carpenter two days later, had also considered transferring to Louisville or UTEP, not Colorado or Oklahoma, as reported elsewhere, the source said.

Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com reported earlier that Keller was told Monday by ASU coach Dirk Koetter that he would be released from his scholarship.

Keller's mother, Melissa Coveney, told Schad late Monday night that an official announcement was not likely until Thursday. But on Tuesday morning, Schad reported that Nebraska coaches had discussed Keller's pending arrival and that Nebraska's quarterbacks had been briefed on the decision. Mike Keller, the quarterback's father, is a former professional football player and knows Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. Keller would have one season of eligibility left and would succeed senior Zac Taylor as Nebraska's starting QB in 2007.
The Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star reported on its Web site Monday night that two sources close to the Cornhuskers program said Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell had phoned the team's quarterbacks to inform them of the coaches' intent to bring Keller aboard. One of the sources, however, said "it's not a done deal."
The newspaper also reported that Mike Keller said his son had been released from his scholarship by Arizona State.
Keller, who started seven games for Arizona State last season before breaking his thumb, would have to sit out this coming season under NCAA transfer rules if he decides to leave the Sun Devils for another Division I-A program. He would have one season of eligibility remaining in 2007.
Keller was one of the top-rated passers in Division I-A in 2005 before he was hurt, completing 58 percent of his passes (155-for-264) for 2,165 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Carpenter rallied the Sun Devils to a 4-1 record in their last five games last season and was named MVP of Arizona State's 45-40 victory over Rutgers in the Insight Bowl. He led Division I-A in pass efficiency by completing 68 percent of his passes (156-for-228) for 2,273 yards with 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
The players were involved in one of the most intense position battles in college football during preseason camp. Koetter announced Keller would be the team's starting quarterback Friday, but then abruptly reversed his decision two days later after meeting with the school's athletic director and a group of team leaders.
"It's simple. I made a mistake on the quarterback situation and I'm changing my mind," Koetter said after Sunday's practice.
Keller, from Danville, Calif., would seem to be a perfect fit for Nebraska coach Bill Callahan's West Coast offense. Taylor is a senior, and highly regarded freshman Harrison Beck went AWOL during Nebraska's preseason camp and transferred to North Carolina State.
If Keller leaves Arizona State, the Sun Devils would have only one other scholarship quarterback on their roster: freshman Danny Sullivan.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2557069
 
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keller has to do what's best for himself and his possible future in the NFL. screw ASU with the way they treated him. I'm not saying ASU is wrong by any means, it just seems like they are in a situation where no matter who they pick the other one was going to transfer. left in that situation, the coach would have been an idiot to keep the senior and lose the soph. is this the kind of QB callahan needs to get his offense going?
 
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IMO, if in fact the ASU players simply told Koetter they liked Carpenter better than Keller, as opposed to dishing some previously unknown but verifiable off-the-field crap of a serious nature, Koetter needed to assert his coaching prerogative and tell them "that's nice" but I've made my decision. Be men and deal with it."
 
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I cant believe how poorly this situation was handled by Koetter. If I'm an ASU fan I have serious questions about the leadership ability of the coach. Not as bad as the mutiny by Arizona against Mackovich but if a coach has control over his team something like this should never happen.
 
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Not quite finalized...yet.
Huskers on hold as Keller considers other options


By Joe Schad and Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com




Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller, who according to sources had been preparing to enroll at Nebraska as early as this week, now apparently is considering other options as he searches for a new school.

Though two sources said Keller was preparing to enroll in Lincoln, his father, Mike, told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday evening that he has spoken with Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan, informing him that some new teams had entered the equation.
"Nebraska is excited about Sam and anybody would be excited to have him as a leader," Mike Keller said. "Bill runs a pro style offense, some call it West Coast, and they'd love to have somebody with Sam's experience come in. He's mature and would be working with young quarterbacks for a season. You know, I'm not trying to play games or play schools against one another, but I can't say it's finalized yet."
Mike Keller said that a new, though longshot, consideration would be to stay enrolled at Arizona State and redshirt, then be eligible to transfer and play at another school next season.
"This has all happened so fast," Mike Keller said. "Obviously, Sam was devastated. Now, we just have to stay calm and make sure we make the right decision."
Before Mike Keller weighed in with his son's current mindset, an official announcement of Sam Keller enrolling at Nebraska was expected Thursday. On Tuesday morning, Schad reported that Nebraska coaches had discussed Keller's pending arrival and that Nebraska's quarterbacks had been briefed on the decision.

Keller, who was named the Sun Devils' starting quarterback on Friday, only to lose the job to sophomore Rudy Carpenter two days later, had also considered transferring to Louisville or UTEP, not Colorado or Oklahoma, as reported elsewhere, a source said.

Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com reported earlier that Keller was told Monday by ASU coach Dirk Koetter that he would be released from his scholarship.
Mike Keller is a former professional football player and knows Callahan. Sam Keller would have one season of eligibility left and would succeed senior Zac Taylor as Nebraska's starting QB in 2007.
Keller, who started seven games for Arizona State last season before breaking his thumb, would have to sit out this coming season under NCAA transfer rules if he decides to leave the Sun Devils for another Division I-A program. He would have one season of eligibility remaining in 2007.
Keller was one of the top-rated passers in Division I-A in 2005 before he was hurt, completing 58 percent of his passes (155-for-264) for 2,165 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Carpenter rallied the Sun Devils to a 4-1 record in their last five games last season and was named MVP of Arizona State's 45-40 victory over Rutgers in the Insight Bowl. He led Division I-A in pass efficiency by completing 68 percent of his passes (156-for-228) for 2,273 yards with 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
The players were involved in one of the most intense position battles in college football during preseason camp. Koetter announced Keller would be the team's starting quarterback Friday, but then abruptly reversed his decision two days later after meeting with the school's athletic director and a group of team leaders.
"It's simple. I made a mistake on the quarterback situation and I'm changing my mind," Koetter said after Sunday's practice.
Keller, from Danville, Calif., would seem to be a perfect fit for Nebraska coach Bill Callahan's West Coast offense. Taylor is a senior, and highly regarded freshman Harrison Beck went AWOL during Nebraska's preseason camp and transferred to North Carolina State.

If Keller leaves Arizona State, the Sun Devils would have only one other scholarship quarterback on their roster: freshman Danny Sullivan. Joe Schad covers college football for ESPN and Mark Schlabach writes for ESPN.com.
 
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Apparently it is Nebraska.

Updated: Aug. 23, 2006, 1:28 PM ET
Nebraska says QB Keller has enrolled at school


ESPN.com news services

http://log.go.com/log?srvc=sz&guid=...PN_ROS_146x46_Football_Switch_30Day150Signing


Former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller has enrolled at the University of Nebraska, a spokeswoman in the registrar and records office at the school told ESPN's Joe Schad on Wednesday morning.
Keller is expected to redshirt at Nebraska this season and be eligible to play his final season next year, likely succeeding Zac Taylor as starting quarterback.


Keller, who was named the Sun Devils' starting quarterback on Friday only to lose the job to sophomore Rudy Carpenter two days later, had also considered transferring to Louisville or UTEP, not Colorado or Oklahoma, as reported elsewhere, a source told Schad.
Mike Keller, the quarterback's father, is a former professional football player and knows Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. Keller would have one season of eligibility left.
Keller, who started seven games for Arizona State last season before breaking his thumb, would have to sit out this coming season under NCAA transfer rules if he decides to leave the Sun Devils for another Division I-A program. He would have one season of eligibility remaining in 2007.
Keller was one of the top-rated passers in Division I-A in 2005 before he was hurt, completing 58 percent of his passes (155-for-264) for 2,165 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Carpenter rallied the Sun Devils to a 4-1 record in their last five games last season and was named MVP of Arizona State's 45-40 victory over Rutgers in the Insight Bowl. He led Division I-A in pass efficiency by completing 68 percent of his passes (156-for-228) for 2,273 yards with 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
The players were involved in one of the most intense position battles in college football during preseason camp. Koetter announced Keller would be the team's starting quarterback Friday, but then abruptly reversed his decision two days later after meeting with the school's athletic director and a group of team leaders.
"It's simple. I made a mistake on the quarterback situation and I'm changing my mind," Koetter said after Sunday's practice.
Keller, from Danville, Calif., would seem to be a perfect fit for Nebraska coach Bill Callahan's West Coast offense. Taylor is a senior, and highly regarded freshman Harrison Beck went AWOL during Nebraska's preseason camp and transferred to North Carolina State.
With Keller's departure, the Sun Devils have only one other scholarship quarterback on their roster: freshman Danny Sullivan.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2558713
 
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Link

Keller joins Huskers
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 - 12:35:19 am CDT Sam Keller On Aug. 24, 2002, the Nebraska football team throttled a hapless Arizona State team 48-10 at Memorial Stadium in both teams’ season opener.

Exactly four years later, Nebraskans are buzzing, and many rejoicing, after learning the Huskers have somehow snagged one of Arizona State’s best players. A quarterback, nonetheless.

Times certainly have changed.

An experienced, touted, NFL-hopeful quarterback from the Pac-10 Conference has chosen to conclude his college career in Lincoln.

Sam Keller, who last week was named the starting quarterback at Arizona State, on Wednesday officially transferred and signed with Nebraska, choosing the Huskers over Oklahoma.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound native of Danville, Calif., joins the Huskers immediately and will sit out this season, per NCAA transfer rules, using his available redshirt.

Keller will use his final season of eligibility in 2007, when, as luck would have it, Nebraska will be looking for an experienced, touted, NFL-hopeful type to run Bill Callahan’s West Coast offense. Keller will be on scholarship for both seasons. (For some of Keller's 2005 numbers, click here).

“He looks at Nebraska as an opportunity, and he’s certainly deserving of that,” Callahan said. “He’s going to come in here and compete, just like everybody else. He wants to earn his stripes and earn his role. He’s willing to sit out a year and do that and prepare himself for competition in the spring.”

Keller arrived in Lincoln with Nebraska football AD Tim Cassidy on Wednesday afternoon. Callahan said Keller wouldn’t be available for official interviews until today.

Keller will immediately join the mix next season to replace two-year starter Zac Taylor. His competition will include junior Joe Ganz, junior college transfer Brian Hildebrand and true freshman Patrick Witt, currently a Texas high school senior who has orally committed.

“It’s always nice to get another quarterback,” sophomore receiver Nate Swift said. “It’s going to raise everybody’s level of competition. Joe Ganz is a great quarterback, and I think he’s got the job right now (for next season), and somebody’s going to have to come in and take it away from him.”

Wednesday’s move ended a bizarre saga for Keller and capped another episode in Nebraska’s own quarterback drama.

Remember when the Huskers’ future included Josh Freeman and Harrison Beck?

Freeman committed to NU, then de-committed, causing some friction when he jilted the Nebraska staff and signed with new Kansas State coach Ron Prince. Beck, a sophomore, went AWOL from fall camp earlier this month, drove home to Florida, and never returned. He’s at North Carolina State, down the road from former NU quarterback Joe Dailey, who transferred after the 2004 season and went to North Carolina.

The Huskers pulled from their hat Hildebrand, a junior college transfer who joined the team only days after Beck left. He has three years to play three years. And now, Keller.

“Quarterbacking is different in this day and age,” Callahan said. “Guys want to play. Guys want an opportunity where they can showcase their skills. They want to be in the best program, system possible.”

Keller, who once was voted team captain at ASU, seemingly won the starting quarterback battle with redshirt sophomore Rudy Carpenter this fall, then lost it. The sudden switch came after ASU coach Dirk Koetter met with a group of Sun Devil players who voiced their opinions on the matter.

“Things happened, and I don’t really want to get into Arizona State and what transpired down there,” Callahan said. “This is a new opportunity, a fresh break, a fresh start for Sam, and we’re certainly going to be very supportive of him.”

Callahan said Keller could be at practice as soon as today. He said Keller’s role on the team for this season hasn’t been determined specifically, but that Keller is willing to do whatever necessary.

“He said, ‘Coach, I’ll do whatever you want me to do. I’ll be more than happy to be on the scout team and help you guys out in any way, shape or form,’ ” Callahan said.

“It was great to hear him volunteer that type of attitude.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or [email protected].
 
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