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Rice University Athletics
Clement Named C-USA Most Valuable Player
12/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 10, 2008
Conference USA announced its 2008 Players of the Year today, as selected by the league's 12 head football coaches and Rice senior QB Chase Clement was named the first recipient of the C-USA Most Valuable Player Award.
Clement has completed 296-of-446 passes for 3,812 yards and 41 touchdowns with just seven interceptions while leading the Owls to a share of the C-USA West title and a berth in the Texas Bowl.
He threw at least one touchdown pass in his final 25 C-USA games and posted a 15-8 record as a starter in league play over the last three years. Clement set the C-USA record for career TD passes (96) and total touchdowns (120). He now holds six C-USA records and leads all C-USA signal callers with 52 total touchdowns this season.
Clement holds all the Owls records in passing and total offense and heads into Texas Bowl action as the only quarterback in the nation to have amassed over 500 yards rushing (a career-high 621) while throwing for over 3,500 yards.
The Owls will meet Western Michigan on December 30 in the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Tickets are currently on sale through the Owls Athletics Ticket Office (713) 522-Owls, or on-line.
Houston sophomore QB Case Keenum was named Offensive Player of the Year, the ninth time in the last 11 years that a quarterback has won the award. He has passed for more than 300 yards in every game this season and leads the nation in total offense (4,993 yards), while ranking second in passing yards (4,768) and passing touchdowns (43).
Defensive honors went to Houston senior DE Phillip Hunt. Hunt leads Conference USA and ranks fourth nationally with 12 sacks, all solo. He is third in the league lead in tackles for loss with 16.5, totaling 110 lost yards. Hunt has posted 40 total tackles, forced a team-high three fumbles (second in C-USA), broke up one pass and blocked a field goal attempt.
The Special Teams Player of the Year award went to UCF senior kick returner/punt returner Joe Burnett. The first player in C-USA history to be named first team all-conference at three different positions, Burnett ranked 10th in C-USA in total all-purpose yards without registering a single rush or reception. He led C-USA and ranked seventh nationally in kick return yardage at 28.7.
