2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Sometimes a school has to do what it has to do in order to get some notoriety. For the Boise State Broncos formerly of Division IAA it meant installing a blue turf field in 1986. As novel as it was, it did not receive much attention until the school became a force to be reckoned with when it became a Division I school at the turn of the millennium.
In 2001 they would join the WAC and engage in nearly a decade of dominance of the conference. In the nine seasons Boise State has been a part of the WAC it placed first in seven of them.
The college football world was aware of the university as it continued to win the WAC, but it really stood up and took notice of the program and the players involved in it after the 2006 season Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. After an exciting game ended in a tie, the Broncos would win the game in overtime off a daring Statue of Liberty style play.
Kellen Moore would end up attending Boise State after that fateful game. After leading the team to an undefeated season in 2009 it only makes sense that he be mentioned as a potential Heisman trophy winner.
High School
The 6’0” Moore set all kinds of records while playing for Prosser High School in Washington. In four years he would complete 787 of 1195 passes for 11367 yards, 173 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. The 787 completions and 173 touchdowns would be state records. Of the 787 completions, a record 317 of them would come his junior year along with a single season record of 4600 yards. The 67 touchdown passes he would throw as senior would also be a single season record.
Much of his work would come in his junior and senior years. As a junior he would complete 66% of his passes for 4600 yards, 66 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. During his sophomore season he would pass for 2442 yards on 179 of 308 passes. In his freshman year he would barely see time throwing four completions for 56 yards and one touchdown.
All the stats would not come without some level of success as a team. In his senior season he would lead the team to a 12-1 record and a spot in the state semi-finals after completing 72% of his passes for 4269 yards, 67 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions.
After a season like that it was really no surprise that he would be highly recruited or end up at a school that likes to pass, like Boise State.
College
Like many top prospects, he was redshirted his freshman year and did not play in 2007. When he ascended to the starting spot in 2008 he would waste no time in picking up where he left off as a high school senior.
Moore shined almost as soon as he stepped onto that blue field. By time the 2008 season would end he would lead the Broncos to an undefeated regular season and a bowl bid (Poinsetta against TCU; their only loss of the season). Statistically he would complete nearly 70% of his passes (281 of 405) for 3486 yards and 25 touchdowns with only ten interceptions.
In 2009 he would only get better. This time he would finish the season undefeated going 14-0 including a win over #4 ranked TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. His 39 touchdowns would be a regular season best for a Boise State quarterback to go with 3536 yards and only three interceptions. At 167.3 his passer efficiency rating would be the best in Division IA.
With a record like his it would be inconceivable for him not to be mentioned in talks as a Heisman trophy candidate in 2010. Review his statistics and you would expect to see his name at the top of the list of potential names for the award.
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