2003 Football Roster
Roster
Kellen Clemens
- Position:
- Quarterback
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 210
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Burns , Ore.
- High School:
- Burns HS
PERSONAL ? Born Kellen Vincent Clemens on June 6, 1983 in Burns, Ore. Wife: Nicole (6-24-05). Parents: John and Vicky Clemens. Family: Four sisters. High School (Coach): Burns (Terry Graham) ?01. Major: Business Administration. Redshirt: 2001.
HIGH SCHOOL ? The only player in state to attract Parade All-America attention ranked as third-best prep quarterback in country by PrepStar. The USA Today All-American and Oregon Gatorade Player-of-the-Year amassed seven of 10 votes on the Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Best in the West list in addition to Tacoma News Tribune Northwest Nuggets inclusion. Completed 218 of 395 passes for 3,464 yards and 37 touchdowns his senior year and rushed for 325 yards and 15 TDs. The first-team all-state safety (The Oregonian) collected 63 tackles and 12 interceptions final prep year after finishing with 11 picks as a junior. Three-time first-team all-Greater Oregon League standout led Highlanders to 31-7 prep ledger and carried team to state championship game in 1999. Closed career throwing for state record 8,646 yards (610-1,112) and 102 TDs.
OREGON ? Only Danny O’Neil (1991-94) and Bill Musgrave (1987-90) have passed for more yards heading into their senior seasons in school history than Oregon’s 24-game starter. Only one other signal caller has ever thrown for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore and junior as Clemens seeks to join O’Neil as only the second to string together three such seasons. O’Neil led the Ducks to the Rose Bowl his final year. Joey Harrington guided his alma mater to No. 2 in the nation. Such is the legacy the current two-year starter follows as he prepares for one final fling. The school record-holder begins his senior campaign sixth on Oregon’s all-time passing list (5,149), seventh in total offense (5,456) and tied for fourth in touchdown passes (42), while currently holding onto the top mark in career accuracy (59.7%). Strives to improve his consistenty throughout the entire year, which school’s revised offensive attack should cater to. His ability to improvise and create an option to run with the football should work well within the framework of the attack as he has scrambled for 307 yards and six scores over the course of the last three years. Excels as a poised leader who has been through the battles before and assumes pride in taking care of the football, tossing multiple interceptions only four times in 29 appearances. Work ethic has paid off in the weight room as well, topping the all-time charts at his position with a 352-lb. power clean lift and 470-lb. squat during winter testing.
2004 ? The honorable mention all-conference choice completed the year ranked 16th in the country in passing (231.6 avg.), 17th in points accounted for (14.18 ppg), 27th in total offense (248.9 avg.) and 45th in passing efficiency (131.6 rating). Final numbers were good enough to stand eighth on all time Oregon single-season total offense list (2,738 yards) and ninth on school’s passing chart (2,548 yards), while only three other players in program’s history completed more than his 22 touchdown passes. Included was a career-best 437 yards passing in the win at Washington State as he parlayed a trio of rushing TDs with his three scoring passes. The yardage total was seventh on the Ducks’ single-game ledger and the best in six years. His 36 completions and 55 attempts against the Cougars also were unsurpassed among his personal pinnacles, as were his four touchdown passes in a one-point loss to No. 4 California. Witnessed his string of consecutive games with at least one TD pass come to and end at Stanford, yet he still has thrown for at least one score in 15 of his last 16 appearances. The Cardinal also extinguished his string of consecutive pass attempts without an interception at a school-record 178.
2003 ? Assumed the role of starting quarterback in all 13 games and responded by throwing for more touchdown passes and yards than any Oregon sophomore ever (surpassing Dan Fouts?16 TDs, 2,390 yards, 1970). Also set single game school record for pass completion proficiency (88.2%, 15 of 17 passes) vs. Stanford, as well as was on the front end of passes to Demetrius Williams which tied for the sixth (86 yards at Mississippi State) and eighth-longest (85 yards to Washington) completions in school history. Since completing only one of his first six passes for 14 yards in the 10th game of the year vs. California, he proceeded to connect on 72-107 attempts (67.3%) for 774 yards and nine TDs the remainder of the year after re-entering the game with 6:35 to play. Capped the year ranked 10th on Oregon’s single-season ledgers for passing yards and total offense (2,508 yards). Threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in Oregon’s season-opening win at Mississippi State and got better as the season wore on. Concluded the season by throwing for a season-best 363 yards (32-42) and three touchdowns vs. Minnesota in the Sun Bowl. Seemed to thrive sharing time with senior Jason Fife as the duo led the Ducks to a 4-0 start, including a win over then-No. 3 Michigan in which Clemens completed 15 of 23 passes for 160 yards with no interceptions. Threw seven touchdowns in his first three starts and finished with two or more scoring passes in five games. Extended his string of 92 consecutive pass attempts without an errant aerial to open the season (through 4-plus appearances), and threw more than one interception in a single game only twice. Completed eight of 12 passes for 103 yards in the final quarter vs. California to secure his first come-from-behind victory. Led the Ducks to their second consecutive win the following week, completing 21-27 passes (77.8%) for 183 yards and two touchdowns at UCLA to earn team offensive-player-of-the-week accolades. With three touchdown passes and another running score in Oregon’s 34-20 win over Oregon State, Clemens accounted for four touchdowns for his first time as a collegian. Also added a career-best 64 yards rushing against the Beavers. Ended the season ranked 31st in the country in passing efficiency after rising to as high as fifth after three outings, 58th in total offense (192.9 avg.) and tied for 62nd nationally in completions per game (14.0 avg.).
2002 ? His potential and desire to be on the field were no more evident than when he challenged for the starting nod during ?03 spring drills. Eventually settled in as Oregon’s backup in 2002, seeing action in five games. His steady performances off the bench led to a second-half start against Washington, as well as extended play in Oregon’s final game of the season versus Wake Forest. Came off the bench in the second quarter of the game and in second drive he completed six consecutive passes for 57 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Samie Parker. Finished the game as Oregon’s leading passer, completing 19-of-31 passes for 161 yards. Had his best drive of the season
versus Portland State where he drove Oregon from its own 35-yard line with two completions of 12 yards, a season-long strike of 14 yards to tight end Tim Day, which set up Clemens’ lone touchdown pass of the season, and an eight yard completion to Nate LiaBraaten.
2001 ? Flourished as a redshirt scout team standout, earning contingent’s offensive player-of-the-week recognition for aiding preparations in wins over Wisconsin, Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State.
