Colt Brennan Blog

AP writes:  “Quarterback controversy in the making? Hardly. Should Brennan have stayed in Canton an extra day to be measured for a Hall of Fame bust? Certainly not. But, just to be sure, coach Jim Zorn and his coaching staff have moved quickly to stomp out the Brennan hype.

… He’ll have to time to work on the flaws. The most probable scenario for 2008 is that Brennan spends the entire season holding the clipboard as the No. 3 quarterback.”

Of course, Colt holding a clipboard all year isn’t the worst thing in the world.  It’s not where you start the race, but where you end it.  And historically, rookie quarterbacks who play in their first year do poorly.  A more realistic path to an NFL starting job is learning your first few years in the NFL while working your way up the depth chart until you get your shot.  And Colt will certainly, eventually, get his shot.

Colt Brennan answers in the Washington Post.

One thing they call Hawaii is the melting [pot] of the Pacific. If you went to a Nebraska, or an Iowa or some places in the South, you know what you’re getting into. You know what the reputation is of the community and the people. When you get out to Hawaii you’re mixed with Polynesian descent from all over ¿ Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaiians, obviously — people over from the mainland who acclimate themselves to Hawaii. You’re always getting this broad view of different people and cultures, and what they’re like from all over the world. You get this kind of universal experience while you’re out there.

On NFL.com.

The AP summary:

Rookie Colt Brennan, the former Hawai’i quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist, threw two touchdown passes in the second half, leading new Washington coach Jim Zorn and the Redskins to a 30-16 victory over Indianapolis in last night’s Hall of Fame Game.

Winning seemed like an appropriate tribute to two of the Redskins’ most revered players, Art Monk and Darrell Green, who were inducted into the Hall of Fame along with former Kansas City cornerback and Redskins assistant coach Emmitt Thomas on Saturday. The other inductees were linebacker Andre Tippett, tackle Gary Zimmerman and defensive end Fred Dean.

“Taking my first snap, I went to the line, took a deep breath and thought to myself, ‘Just have fun out here tonight,’ ” Brennan said. “And I had a lot of fun.”

So did the huge contingent of Washington fans who turned Fawcett Stadium into a makeshift version of FedEx Field.

“Guys walking around you are Hall of Famers,” said Brennan on playing in the Hall of Fame Game. “When you get into that stadium — and it’s a real intimate stadium — you’re not blown away by it being the NFL. It’s normal basically. I felt really comfortable there. When it was my turn, I was chomping at the bit. I was ready to play football. It was a nice place to start out. It gives you a lot to get excited about what you’re about to take part of.”

The debuts of Zorn and Brennan produced exactly what the Redskins had hoped for — even if it was a meaningless preseason game.

“I’ve had such an up-and-down offseason since the (Sugar Bowl) game, with my (hip) injury,” Brennan said. “I was looking for something to go right for me. I was thinking, with this being my debut, it would be awesome if I could go out and do really well, and start off my new career on a good note. Luckily, that kind of took place.”

KHNL airs video from DC’s local NBC affiliate on Colt at the Skins camp.

Several commenters to this blog have noted that the Redskins store does not sell Colt Brennan jersey to Hawaii.  For obvious reasons, this is a baffling move.  (Couldn’t they just charge the appropriate price for Hawaii shipping, i.e. more?)  The ‘Skins blog Hog Heaven follows up:

Colt Brennan is hugely popular in Hawaii and Hawaii is a State of the Union, but Hawaiians may as well live on Mars when it comes to getting a Brennan replica jersey from the Redskins Store. The Redskins, who play in FedEx Field and who ship via FedEx, won’t deliver to Hawaii or Alaska.

The issue came to light on the Colt Brennan Blog. A quick call to the Redskins store confirmed that, indeed, the Skins don’t ship to the forty-ninth or fiftieth State. Guess Honolulu is too far Hawayy. [Sorry; couldn’t help it.]

Odd logic, considering that customers pay the shipping charges and FedEx will gladly deliver there. But then, this is Washington, where those out-of-towners in Congress accuse the place of oddness to get elected, then contribute to it once they get here.

From KGMB-Hawaii, which airs a video report from DC’s WUSA.

Colt has a Redskins training blog on the Redskins’ official website.

You can read it here.

A Washington Times profile of Colt.

From the Wash. Post:

Colt Brennan, a record-setting quarterback drafted out of Hawaii, agreed to contract terms with the Washington Redskins, the team announced yesterday.

Brennan will receive a signing bonus of less than $100,000 as part of a standard four-year contract for rookies, said a source familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because the contract had not been signed. Brennan will earn $295,000 this season, $385,000 the second season, $470,000 the third and $555,000 the fourth.

From Redskins.com:

Rookie quarterback Colt Brennan took his first snaps as a Redskin, participating in individual drills during Monday’s practice.

Brennan is nearing the end of his rehab assignment. He had hip surgery in early April.

Because of the surgery, coaches are bringing Brennan along slowly. If he impresses in preseason, he could be the Redskins’ third quarterback in 2008.

Brennan was one of three sixth-round draft picks by the Redskins in the NFL Draft last April.

At the official Redskins website.

Certainly a good sign that the Redskins are selling his jersey.

Here.

“The thing that I look for, one of the strong suits of a QB, is can he hit what he’s throwing at?” Zorn said. “Colt has done that. He’s been a 70-percent passer. Whatever level and whatever type of defense you’re going against, to throw 70-plus percent, there’s some accuracy there. . . .

“And he’s got the ability to move around. His lateral movement, his ability to get himself in a position to throw the ball after a play breaks down, is tremendous, I think. Hopefully, he’ll be able to come in here and do that.”

As the SBulletin notes, Colt now has the time and less pressure to develop into a starting QB.  Will he be able to do it?  Time will tell, but he’s landed in a place where he has a chance to develop.

http://starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=7024

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the NFL Draft today with the 186th overall pick.

“He was in a very quarterback-friendly offense,” draft analyst Mel Kiper said in explaining the late pick of Brennan, who was third in the Heisman Trophy voting. “(The sixth round) Is the best he could’ve hoped for.

“He’s not a kid completely without ability,” Kiper said.

Redskins vice president Vinnie Cerrato said Brennan will have time to develop.

“We’ve got an outstanding person to coach him and teach him,” Cerrato told ESPN. “(Redskins coach) Jim Zorn will be just what the doctor ordered for him. There’s no pressure, he’s got time to learn and develop.

“He’s done a ton of things. He’s had a lot of success. You can’t discount all the victories and all the touchdowns.”

Brennan was the 10th quarterback selected in the draft.

Scouts considered him a potential late first round or second round pick for the 2007 draft, but Brennan decided to return to UH for his senior season.

Pete Fiutak of CollegeFootballNews.com:

Colt Brennan, QB Hawaii
With Andre Woodson suffering a hamstring problem and Joe Flacco and Chad Henne spraying their throws, Brennan stood out as the star of the quarterback drills. After a disastrous Sugar Bowl and lousy workouts in the post-season circuit, he stepped up his game big-time as the most accurate and impressive passer in Indy by far. Matt Ryan, who didn’t work out, has absolutely nothing to worry about, but at least Brennan is on the radar again after making all the throws in the book while potentially reestablishing himself as one of the top five quarterbacks.

On ESPN.com: “Colt Brennan of Hawaii didn’t run, but he was the most accurate thrower Sunday. He completed all 18 of his passes, confirming he is a sharpshooter despite a strange, side arm-type release.”

From Scout’s Detroit Lions site:

Amid all of the criticism stemming from his Sugar Bowl and Senior Bowl performances, Colt Brennan was arguably the most impressive quarterback of the day. He was without question the day’s most accurate passer. Brennan had to wind-up to deliver some of the longer routes, extending his throwing motion and proving his lack of prototypical arm strength. But the Hawaii quarterback proved his ability to throw with touch, precision, and just enough zip that in the right offense, he could be a successful NFL quarterback. Brennan seemed to grow more confident as his session wore on, and his peers noticed his accuracy. By the end of the session, nearly all of Brennan’s passes were being thrown with a chorus of cheers from his fellow quarterbacks and surrounding wide receivers.

Fox Sports / Scout said this:  “Hawaii’s Colt Brennan was smooth and accurate, especially on the short and medium routes, including a nice throw on an out route to Indiana’s James Hardy. After a Senior Bowl week that raised some questions about his ability to succeed at the pro level, he bounced back with a consistent performance at the Combine.”

From USA Today:

Hawaii’s prolific duo of quarterback Colt Brennan and wide receiver Davone Bess created buzz with strong showings in Sunday’s quarterback-receiver workout group at the NFL scouting combine.

Brennan showed good accuracy, velocity and footwork as he re-inflated his stock that seemed to be plummeting coming off a 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

He helped dispel doubts about his ability to transition from former Hawaii coach June Jones’ spread, shotgun offense. And the 6-2 quarterback is up to 207 pounds after dropping to 185 at the Senior Bowl following a bout with the stomach flu.

From Russ Lande:

After looking tiny and getting killed by the media at the Senior Bowl, Hawaii QB Colt Brennan has done well so far at the Combine. As mentioned yesterday, he helped himself by weighing in at more than 200 pounds (207), and even more important, he was very sharp in pass drops, got rid of the ball quickly and got better zip on his throws than expected.

From STsai:

INDIANAPOLIS — In an astonishing display of accuracy, Colt Brennan completed 95.2 percent of his passes during drills today at the NFL Scouting Combine in the RCA Dome.
Brennan hit 20 of 21 passes; the lone incompletion was a chest-high pass that ricocheted off Kansas wideout Marcus Henry’s hands.
Brennan showed arm strength (two of the completions were for 45 yards) in disciplines ranging from 5-yard outs to streak patterns.
Brennan worked out with a group that included UH teammates Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins.
One of the drills was a route in which the receiver ran 5 yards straight, then cut to the left. Brennan and Bess were randomly paired for that play, which was the Warriors’ money short-yardage play the past two seasons. Brennan easily completed the pass to Bess.
Brennan drew applause from the players and coordinators when he completed a 45-yard to DeSean Jackson. It was a difficult throw in which Jackson ran straight 10 yards, cut 5 yards to the left, then sprinted to the right.
Only players and drill coordinators were allowed on the field. Scouts were in the stands. Reporters from 25 news agencies, including The Honolulu Advertiser, were allowed to watch from the luxury suites.

A long draft analysis.  Also has video on the right.

From the Arizona Republic:

Fourteen of the best college football players from the 2007 season competed in the 10th College Football All-Star Challenge on Tuesday afternoon at the Arizona State University Soccer Stadium in Tempe.

Participating in the quarterback drills were John David Booty of Southern California, Colt Brennan of Hawaii, Chad Henne of Michigan, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Delaware’s Joe Flacco.

Flacco won two challenges, including the long toss with a pass of 74 yards. [...]

Brennan won the accuracy competition portion of the quarterback challenge.

“Obviously, these next four months for everyone will be grueling,” Brennan said, referring to preparations for the NFL draft, which will be held April 26-27 in New York.

Sporting News:

I sought Brennan in Mobile, Ala., during Senior Bowl week to see how he was handling the bashing. I wondered if he would be defensive, maybe even a little testy. Instead, Brennan was smiling. And he should have been.

Think about it. Despite all of these question marks that could drop Brennan out of not just the first round but possibly the draft’s first day, he will likely be among the top five quarterbacks selected.

He will be given time to develop because nobody will be expecting him to have a rookie season like Dan Marino’s. “I want to go to a place where the coaches want to invest time with me and I can be the guy down the road,” says Brennan.

There is a demand for his services, too. Did you see all of the mediocre quarterback play in the NFL this season? Plenty of teams need quarterback help. And plenty of teams had their eyes on Brennan last week.

From the Honolulu Advertiser:

Brennan, who was in for only 17 plays, completed 2 of 6 passes for 29 yards and one interception for the South squad, but there was one bright spot for him in the game — the South defeated the North, 17-16, thanks to a 2-yard touchdown run by Florida’s Andre Caldwell on the game’s final play.

“It was a great game (as a whole),” Brennan said. “I wish I could have played a lot better. But our team had a great chemistry and it’s been a fun week. I just hope I can work out in the next couple of months and get bigger and stronger and have a great combine.”

Communication issues also created problems for the other two South quarterbacks — Kentucky’s Andre Woodson, who finished the day 3 of 6 for 27 yards and a touchdown, and South Offensive MVP Erik Ainge of Tennessee, who was 13 of 21 for 159 yards and led the South on its winning drive.

“Every time I went in, my headpiece kept messing up and I couldn’t hear the plays right,” Brennan said. “I didn’t know if I was calling the right play or not.”

“He (Brennan) couldn’t get the plays because of the microphone problems, and it caused him to be a little bit discombobulated,” said San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was part of the South squad coaching staff. “But he had a great week of practice. He’ll be fine (in the NFL) because he sees things so well and gets the ball out quick.”

Stephen Tsai has a wrap:

It admittedly wasn’t a very good Senior Bowl for Colt Brennan.
Despite being named the South’s captain (in voting by teammates), he played in three series — two of which ended in turnovers, including an interception.
Colt was sick last week, and lost some weight.
Now he plans to return to California to train, and to gain weight and strength. He has several more opportunities — at next month’s NFL combine, at the Pro Day in mid-March, and at private workouts.
The one things scouts won’t ignore is his body of work in college. There aren’t many QBs as accurate as Colt.

In the January 26 Senior Bowl.

Meanwhile, the AP has a feature on Brennan.

This is from Scouts Inc / ESPN.com’s Todd McShay:

MOBILE, Ala. — All three South team quarterbacks have struggled during Senior Bowl week, and none more than Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson, a former first-round prospect whose draft stock is free-falling right now. Woodson certainly deserves much of the blame for his own struggles but according to two different scouts we’ve spoken to this week new 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz is a big part of the problem as well.

Martz has apparently attempted to mold Woodson, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan (Hawaii) and Tennessee’s Erik Ainge into proper fits for his system in only a four-day period. In doing so, Martz has tinkered with their footwork on drops and timing as passers. [...]

While none of the three quarterbacks have adjusted well given such a short period of time, the system suits Brennan and Ainge far better than it does Woodson. Like the many pro quarterbacks to have success in Martz’s scheme at the next level — such as Kurt Warner, Mark Bulger and Jon Kitna — Brennan and Ainge have relatively quick releases and are used to delivering the ball to a spot in order to mask their lack of ideal arm strength. Woodson, meanwhile, has a slower delivery but is often able to make up for that by getting outstanding zip on his throws.

Now comes the question that will dog Brennan until he proves otherwise: Is he ready for the NFL? His showing in the Sugar Bowl certainly didn’t do him any favors, especially with so many questions hovering about the competition he’d faced at Hawaii leading into that game. But this week at the Senior Bowl the 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist is getting a chance for redemption, and in a twisted sort of way, thinks the Sugar Bowl drubbing might have been a blessing in disguise.

“Adversity is something that doesn’t really scare me. It doesn’t really bring me down,” said Brennan, one of three quarterbacks on the South team along with Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson and Tennessee’s Erik Ainge. “The only thing that bowl game did for me was that it gave me great motivation and determination for these next few months. [...]

Al Saunders, the Washington Redskins’ associate head coach and offensive coordinator, said he sees some similarities between Brennan and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Read the rest of the article here.

From Rivals.com:

The best-known player at the Senior Bowl also represents one of the game’s biggest mysteries.

Quarterback Colt Brennan broke 31 NCAA records while operating Hawaii’s run-and-shoot system, but nobody knows what kind of success he might have running a more traditional offense.

“I’m one of those quarterbacks that’s a big question mark,” Brennan acknowledged Monday after his South team completed its first practice. “I can be rising up the draft board or falling down depending on how I show up and execute.”

Read on here.

At the Senior Bowl:

3. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii
Biggest pro: Accuracy.
Biggest con: Past NFL busts of quarterbacks from spread systems in college.
Senior Bowl agenda: Bounce back from dismal Sugar Bowl outing. Prove to scouts he can make same throws into tighter windows versus faster defenders.
Draft projection: Second or third round.

Of course, this blog will keep you updated as Senior Bowl notes come in.  The Senior Bowl is on Jan 26.

Star Bulletin:  “Two weeks before the biggest game ever for the University of Hawaii football team, Ernest Dung A’ana learned from doctors that he had terminal liver cancer.  He also had an aneurysm three times larger than normal, posing a danger on airline flights. But that did not keep him from traveling to New Orleans to watch former UH quarterback Colt Brennan play in the Sugar Bowl.”

Read the rest of the story.

Honolulu Advertiser summarizes what he’s doing in Hawaii after his CFB finished.

As you undoubtedly heard, Hawaii coach June Jones has departed the University of Hawaii to SMU.

This blog does not need to note how poorly UH handled the situation.  Of note:  Herman Frazier appears to be out as Hawaii athletic director.

Colt made a couple of statements about the departure, and Hawaii’s future.

From Tsai’s blog:  Colt Brennan on the coaching search:
“Hawai‘i is a unique place. You just can’t bring in any football coach from anywhere. You’ve got to bring in someone who understands the culture and the community, as well with the football aspect to it. Coach Jones knew that because he lived here and went to school here, and he came back here years later as a seasoned coach, and balanced those things really well.”

Colt also endorsed Chow as a potential HC for Hawaii.  It’s not known whether Chow would be interested for the position; Chow previously was a leading candidate when Jones was hired in ‘99.

And here are Colt’s remarks while Jones was interviewing for the SMU job.

As previously noted, Brennan played his statistically worst game against UGA.  Colt told reporters after that “It was the worst game of my life.” 

A quick look at previous games against ‘BCS conference’ teams tells the story of how comparatively bad it went.  Against Georgia, Colt went 22/38 (58%), for 169 yards, 0TD and 3 INTs.  (As several commentators have pointed out, it’s not all on Colt’s shoulders — to do so neglects credit for the NFL-caliber UGA defensive line, and the problems Hawaii had with its offensive line.)

2007

WASHINGTON
42/50, 84%, 442 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT

2006 

• 436 yards a game
• 133/184= 72.3% completion rate.
• 12TDs, and 5 picks.

ARIZONA STATE:
33/42, 79%, 559 Yards, 5 TD, 1 INT, 224.9

OREGON STATE:
37/50, 74%, 401 Yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 146.57

PURDUE:
33/48, 69%, 434 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 161.16

ALABAMA:
30/44, 68%, 350 Yards, 2TD, 1INT, 145.46 rating

2005.

• 77/117, 66%
• 290 yards/game
• 6 TDs, 2 INTs

USC
21/32, 65%, 250 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 135.3 rating

MICHIGAN STATE
23/31, 74.2%, 219 Yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 154.8 rating

WISCONSIN
33/54, 61%, 403 Yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 138.4 rating

Bigger, faster, stronger, better: the Bulldogs of UGA defeated Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.

Colt’s final line for the night: 22-of-38 for 169 yards, intercepted three times and lost two fumbles. Brennan was sacked 8 times, and hurried at least twice as much.

This fan blog doesn’t need to sugarcoat it: the game was certainly the worst game during his career at the University of Hawaii.

Yet no one can take away the magic of Hawaii’s incredible regular season. And no one can deny the reciprocal love between Brennan and the state of Hawaii. Indeed, despite the drumming by UGA, at the conclusion of the Sugar Bowl, Hawaii’s large number of fans — and, considering the distance traveled, large they were — gave the team a standing ovation.

Numerous articles, both national and local, have noted how much Brennan and the Warriors have meant to the isolated state in the middle of the Pacific. The Star-Bulletin noted that “The impact of UH’s greatest football player ever transcended sports. He is a one-man chamber of commerce and has become the state’s most visible figure.”

Sports figures are mere mortals who excite and inspire. Since his January press conference announcing his senior season return, Colt inspired the state to think of the unthinkable: BCS glory. And while they ultimately came up short, Colt, and all of the Warriors, deserve thanks, praise, and applause for what they’ve done for Hawaii.

PS site note: With Colt’s Hawaii career officially over, this blog will begin to monitor news and analysis about Colt’s draft projections, etc.

AP:  From ex-con to Hawaii hero, Brennan closes out record-breaking college career at Sugar Bowl

AJC: Hawaii QB Brennan studies Bulldogs

SI:  Brennan’s entire career will be defined by Sugar Bowl

Today, New Years Day, the Hawaii Warriors play the Bulldogs of Georgia.  For the Warriors, it’s by far the biggest game, on the biggest stage, in what may be the biggest event for the state of Hawaii since statehood.

For fuller coverage on what Hawaii will do when it has the ball (the focus of this blog, since it is a CB blog), check out the Advertiser and Star Bulletin’s coverage.

When it comes to Colt, some questions still exist among some ‘experts.’

1)  How does Colt fare against high-prestige defenses?

2)  More specifically, how does Colt fare against fast blitzes like the ones Georgia will throw against Hawaii?

3)  How will Colt perform on a huge stage like the primetime Sugar Bowl?

Certainly as we saw with Vince Young’s last college game, Colt has a chance to silence doubters.  And Hawaii has a chance to play itself into one of the greatest Cinderella stories in college football.  Will they do it?  We’ll see tonight.

From the Savannah Morning News:

NEW ORLEANS - A TV reporter asked Colt Brennan for his signature as the quarterback sat down to answer questions from the media here Saturday. Brennan also obliged when a stranger wanted to pose with him in front of camcorder this week on Bourbon Street.

The guy’s name was Geno Atkins. Yes, the Georgia defensive tackle who will try to put Brennan on his backside Tuesday in the Sugar Bowl stopped to meet Brennan when both were with some of their teammates one night this week.

“He was like acting like a groupie,” said defensive end Marcus Howard: “All of us gave him grief for that.”

“Geno wanted to just meet him,” defensive tackle Jeff Owens said. “He was taking pictures of everything we saw. He got Colt Brennan.”

Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe wasn’t thrilled when he heard the news.

“I’m going to have to get him about that,” Ellerbe said. “You don’t take pictures with the enemy.”

I’m here in New Orleans, and one thing that hits you right away:  the number one shirt here is a Colt Brennan jersey.  The area around the airport, and downtown New Orleans is filled with Hawaii fans wearing black, green and white.

Whatever happens with the outcome of January 1’s game, Hawaii fans should be proud of themselves that they’ve traveled so far, in such good numbers.

You can pretty much learn everything you’d want to learn about Colt’s thoughts on the upcoming game here.

Interview in the NY Post:

Q: Can Hawaii [in the Sugar Bowl versus Georgia] pull off an upset like Boise State did last year?

A: Absolutely. It’s a tough assignment playing Georgia down in the South, tougher than what Boise State had last year against Oklahoma. It’s a tough environment in New Orleans, inside a dome with a million Georgia fans, and Georgia is playing as well as anyone in the country, winning six straight games. But I still think Hawaii is going to do it somehow. They are going to throw the ball around and outscore them. You take Colt Brennan’s arm, with the legs and hands of the receivers, who are among the best in the country, and coach June Jones’ mind, and I just think they will put a ton of points on the board and outscore Georgia. They are just so good at that passing game. It is a great equalizer.

Q: If you were an NFL GM, which quarterback would you want to take first in the NFL draft: Kentucky’s Andre Woodson, Louisville’s Brian Brohm, Brennan, or Boston College’s Matt Ryan?

A: I would take Brennan ’cause he has played more of a pro attack. He can throw the football well, and June Jones is a pro coach. I like the fact that he has been taught the passing game from the ground up from Jones.

From the Knoxville News-Sentinel, and run by the Advertiser:

Colt Brennan, championship quarterback.

That’s how Georgia coach Mark Richt described Hawai’i’s star quarterback when discussing the Warriors Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl date with the Bulldogs in New Orleans.

Richt, 48, is certainly qualified to judge.

Richt was a college quarterback himself at the University of Miami (Fla.) before embarking on a coaching career that’s seen him tutor top-flight signal-callers as the Bulldogs’ head coach, including David Greene, who ranks as the winningest quarterback in Southeastern Conference history.

Before that, Richt coached Heisman Trophy winners Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke as Florida State’s offensive coordinator (1994-2000) and quarterbacks coach (1990-2000).

“If he (Brennan) was inserted into certain (SEC) teams that might have struggled at the position, he would have won them a championship,” Richt said. “The guy is a great quarterback.’

Hon. Advertiser: Georgia backup QB doing Colt impersonation

AJC: Brennan has put conviction behind him

AP: Brennan believes Hawaii’s “Dreadheads” are the best supporting cast in the nation

The NY Times has a nice feature on Colt and his last college game.  Some clips:

And more important, Brennan enjoyed himself. He attained celebrity status on the island. For a recent autograph session sponsored by the university, fans camped out overnight. Brennan would walk into class and see students waiting with bags of memorabilia for him to sign. Even his teammates often asked for autographs for friends and relatives.

He was so preoccupied that his former high school teammate Matt Leinart had a hard time contacting him. Brennan remembered that Leinart had also been difficult to reach during his rise to fame at Southern California.

But through the undefeated season, the injuries and a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, one thing remained constant for Brennan.

Hawaii linebacker Solomon Elimimian said: “I feel like the most joy on his face was just being with the guys. The greatest joy he had was being with us as a team.” [...]

Gil Brandt, a draft analyst, said Brennan was still projected as a second-round pick. Brandt easily rattles off what he considers Brennan’s deficiencies: his slender 6-foot-3 frame, his sidearm throwing motion, his inflated numbers from playing in a pass-happy run-and-shoot offense. But he likes Brennan for a simple reason.

“All he’s done is won football games,” Brandt said.

The coaches who have seen a lot of Brennan are baffled by all the questions.

Read the rest of the piece here.

From their 29th edition:

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan said he and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow compared notes on Georgia when the two were at the Heisman Trophy ceremonies in New York City earlier this month.

“He said [Georgia's was] the best defense he played and they gave him the most trouble,” Brennan said.

Tebow was sacked six times by the Bulldogs in a 42-30 loss in Jacksonville. Tebow’s advice?

“He said just get rid of it because they’re coming,” Brennan said. “They’re a very physical and very fast defense. They’re Georgia. They live up to their reputation and they’re just as good as they are any year.”

Star-Bulletin coverage.

So writes Randy Covitz in the Kansas City Star, who briefly mentions Colt in an article about the QB position for the Kansas City Chiefs:

The Chiefs, 4-11, can be staring at a top-five draft pick, but Edwards sees too many other needs on the team to spend it on a quarterback. Three quarterbacks — Louisville’s Brian Brohm, Boston College’s Matt Ryan and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan — are considered first-round material.

“Let’s say you draft a quarterback in the first round,” Edwards said. “I don’t see a franchise quarterback out there. I haven’t evaluated them, but I haven’t heard enough that, ‘This is Peyton Manning.’ What does that tell you? What have you got? You might have the same guy you already have.

“There are a lot of positions on this team we have to fill …”

As previously noted, Scout.com has Colt as the 19th best draft prospect.

From STsai’s Advertiser Blog:

Colt Brennan and Davone Bess arrived in stormy New Orleans today.
“It’s great to be here,” said Brennan, who spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Colorado.
Brennan’s sister gave birth to a daughter, Tea.
“I’m officially an uncle,” Brennan said.
Bess, who spent the past two days in Californa, Tyson Kafentzis and Brennan were on the same flight from Denver to New Orleans.
They arrived to a thunder storm.
Robert Kekaula said visibility was about eight feet.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Honolulu Advertiser:

There have been hundreds of college graduation ceremonies across the nation this past week.

But only the University of Hawai’i’s fall ceremony featured a 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist, a commencement speaker wearing a replica of the star quarterback’s jersey, and a rousing 27-second ovation for the last College of Arts and Sciences graduate announced.

Then again, UH quarterback Colt Brennan is not an ordinary student, ensuring that yesterday’s commencement ceremony in the Stan Sheriff Center would not be an ordinary event.

Draft scouts have Colt all over the place in the draft, from the 3rd round to Scout.com, which has Colt as the 19th best draft prospect.

Here are the top 5 QBs SR draft prospects:

1) Matt Ryan
2) Colt Brennan
3) Andre Woodson
4) Brian Brohm
5) Chad Henne