UH teammates keep faith in Keenum

When Kenneth Farrow watched his former University of Houston teammate celebrate after making the most talked about pass of the NFL season Sunday night, he felt a jolt of energy.

Farrow, who was a redshirt freshman as Case Keenum was finishing his sixth year at UH, has had a rough go in the NFL. Between a car wreck and a couple of injuries, he hasn’t really had his breakout moment yet.

When he saw Keenum hit Stefon Diggs for a 61-yard touchdown on the last play of the game to give the Minnesota Vikings a 29-24 divisional round playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints, Farrow was reassured that his hard work, determination and dedication would pay off.

“Case reminded me of that,” Farrow said.

Like Keenum, Farrow went undrafted by the NFL. He was picked up by the Chargers but suffered a shoulder injury after appearing in 13 games (two starts) as a rookie in 2016.

He didn’t play in 2017, having been placed on injured reserve after ankle surgery. He feels good now and is ready for another shot. His former quarterback is a big reason for it.

“You look at a guy like Case, he’s never flinched and never doubted himself,” Farrow said. “I will be back here next year and healthy, and I’m ready to give it everything. And it’s because of a guy like Case, who has been through so much but never gave up and never stopped trying. That’s the key: Keep pushing and grinding. He’s a huge motivation.”

Cast aside by Texans, Rams

In six professional seasons, Keenum has been discarded twice apiece by the Texans and Rams. Signed by the Vikings before the 2017 season, he became their quarterback when Sam Bradford went down with a knee injury in Week 2.

Farrow, like so many of Keenum’s former UH teammates, has been thrilled to watch the quarterback guide Minnesota to the NFC North title and a 14-3 record this season. Sunday night’s final play was just icing on the cake.

And while the rest of the world was shocked by the events that led to the Vikings’ last-second win, Keenum’s Cougars teammates weren’t suprised at all.

“I have friends who are Saints fans, and they were all texting me and gloating after that field goal,” said former UH receiver Justin Johnson, now an assistant football coach at the University of Kansas. “I just grinned and said, ‘Watch my man work.’ “

Johnson didn’t doubt Keenum would make a big play at the biggest moment in his career. That’s just how Keenum is wired. Since his high school days at Abilene Wylie and through every year he spent with the Cougars, Keenum has welcomed every opportunity that’s come his way as a perpetual underdog. It’s what

makes him easy to root for.