Sam Keller

Infobox NFLactive
name=Sam Keller


caption=
currentteam=Los Angeles Avengers
currentnumber=19
currentposition=Quarterback
|birthdate=birth date and age|1984|9|28
birthplace=Danville, California
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=235
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Nebraska
undraftedyear=2008
pastteams=
* Los Angeles Avengers (2008)
* Oakland Raiders (2008)*
* Los Angeles Avengers (2008-present):*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status=Active
statweek=
statseason=
statlabel1=
statvalue1=
statlabel2=
statvalue2=
statlabel3=
statvalue3=
nfl=KEL141193

Sam Keller (born September 28, 1984 in city-state|Danville|California) is an Arena football quarterback for the the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Avengers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Nebraska.

Keller has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders.

Early years

Keller attended San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, California and was a student and a letterman in football and basketball. In football, Keller was a three-year starter, twice named his team's Offensive M.V.P., was a two-time first team All-East Bay League selection, and was a two-time second team All-Contra Costa Times selection. He finished his senior season with 3,282 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. After his senior football season, Keller was invited to the California/Florida High School All-Star Football Game. In basketball, he was a four-year starter. Sam Keller graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in 2003.

College career

Arizona State

Sam Keller enrolled at Arizona State on a scholarship offer in 2003, as the ninth-ranked quarterback in the class. He played in six games as a true freshman, passing for 247 yards and a touchdown. His most extensive action was against UCLA, when he threw for 79 yards.

In 2004, as a sophomore, Keller played backup to senior Andrew Walter. He played in only six games, but threw for 606 yards and five touchdowns with only one interception. Keller earned his first career start in the Sun Bowl against Purdue, leading a fourth-quarter comeback victory with 370 yards and three touchdowns. Keller earned the Sun Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

As a junior in 2005, Keller played tremendous in his first four games of the season. He had 461 yards against LSU, followed up by 409 yards against Northwestern University. He continued with 300-yard performances against USC and Oregon State. In his four games, Keller passed for 1,582 yards with a 145.78 quarterback efficiency rating. However, he suffered a season-ending hand injury shortly after the four-game stretch. He only started the next three games, but finished the season with 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Nebraska

In 2006, Keller transferred from Arizona State University to the University of Nebraska. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Keller was forced to sit out his senior season, but redshirted to save his year of eligibility. He was named the team's scout team offensive player of the year.

In 2007, as a redshirt-senior, Keller finished the season with the Cornhuskers with 2,422 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games. The Huskers finished the season with a 5-7 record. Keller broke his collar bone in the ninth game against Texas and was replaced as the starter for the final three games of the season by Joe Ganz. Keller's 2,422 yards was a career-high, along with his 10 interceptions. His 14 touchdowns was the lowest since his sophomore season, and his quarterback efficiency rating was a career-low 133.74. He set Nebraska school records for single season and career completion percentage (63.1), as well as passing yards per game in a single season and career (269.1). At the time of his injury, he also briefly held the school record for passing yards in a single game (438 vs. Ball State), which Ganz later broke (510 vs. Kansas State).

Professional career

Keller was tried out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers immediately following the 2008 NFL Draft after going undrafted, however they did not sign him.

Oakland Raiders

In May 2008 the Oakland Raiders were said to have given him a tryout. On June 25, the Raiders waived quarterback Erik Meyer and signed Keller. Keller was waived on July 24.

External links

* [http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/keller_sam00.html Arizona State Sun Devils bio]
* [http://www.laavengers.com/team/about/profile.php?strProfileType=Players&intProfileID=116 Los Angeles Avengers bio]
* [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=866801&Q_SEASON=2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers bio]
* [http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=46574 Oakland Raiders bio]