Brennan expects to be back

Right now, the UH QB doesn't have time to think about going pro or not next season

If Colt Brennan continues to pile up crazy passing numbers at the current rate, the question will keep coming, all the way up until the time he answers with a firm yes or no. And probably some more after that.

Will the Hawaii quarterback forego his senior season and turn pro?

Brennan -- who was awarded his second consecutive WAC Player of the Week honor yesterday -- has the perfect response, for now.

"I've got to keep answering it, but I can't worry about it right now," the junior from Irvine, Calif., said. "Right now I could see myself still being here next year. Right now I expect to be back."

His high school teammate, Matt Leinart, turned down millions of dollars when he played his senior season at USC instead of going pro after his junior year, in which he won the Heisman Trophy. Now he's starting as a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals.

Brennan's situation isn't as high profile (although his name is starting to be mentioned among Heisman candidates), and his stock could increase with another college season and the recognition that goes with it.

Brennan is scheduled to graduate next fall. He said that's a priority, and he doesn't feel pressure to go pro after this season.

"You're only going to be in college once in your life. My family supports me really well, I don't have a financial obligation in my life right now," Brennan said. "If there is some life-changing experience and people really need me to look at some other opportunities, then I sit down and I think about it."

Brennan has completed an incredible 73.1 percent of his passes this fall. Even more remarkable is that his completion percentage has improved every game for the 4-2 Warriors. He was 32-for-39 in Saturday's 68-37 romp at Fresno State, with 409 passing yards in his third five-touchdown game of the season. It was his second game in a row with no interceptions, and his TD-to-pick ratio is 23-5 for the year.

Brennan leads the nation in total offense and touchdown passes.

At 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds, he has enough size to play quarterback in the NFL. His three-quarters delivery is less than ideal, but he is also an adept scrambler.

Much of Brennan's success stems from mastering June Jones' wide-open offense, which requires making correct reads while plays are in progress.

In one sense, it is decision-making. But in another, it is not, because the correct action in every set of circumstances becomes instinctive. There is no decision to make, just proper execution.

Brennan looks at his possible fork-in-the-road situation in a similar fashion.

"I really believe that it's a decision that is made for you. By the end of the year it will be pretty clear how easy that decision is," Brennan said.

It may be as simple as whether he is projected as a first-day pick or not, as it was for Samson Satele last year. He wasn't, so he stayed.

And while Jones continues to call the plays for Brennan, this is one that he won't.

"I don't want to speculate. That's all his decision to make," said Jones, a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons from 1977 to 1981. "If he wants my advice I'll tell him. But I'm not going to volunteer."

On the corner:

Highly-regarded junior-college transfer Keenan Jones will not be among the cornerbacks in the mix to replace injured starter Kenny Patton. Patton suffered a broken collarbone in Saturday's victory at Fresno State and will miss at least the next five games.

"We're probably going to redshirt him," June Jones said of Keenan Jones. "He's had some back spasms."

The possibilities to replace Patton in the starting lineup include Gerard Lewis, A.J. Martinez and Myron Newberry. All played extensively against the Bulldogs after Patton was hurt in the first quarter.

June Jones said the starting spot across from C.J. Hawthorne is wide open.

"A.J. and Gerard and Myron did a nice job when they got in there," the coach said.

"Ryan Keomaka will get a shot in there, too. We'll see how practice goes this week. Guyton Galdeira might even get a chance in there."

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said the Warriors are also trying to redshirt freshman safety Spencer Smith. Smith has made all three road trips.

"We think about putting him in about three times a game," Glanville said.

Outside 'backers aplenty:

Jones also said he expects Micah Lau and Brad Kalilimoku -- first-time starters at outside linebacker -- will do so again at New Mexico State this Saturday.

"Micah Lau played really well this week because of knowing what to do and he plays hard. He's probably not physically as capable as some of the other guys but he knows what to do and he does the right things, and there's something to be said for that and he plays very well and did some key things in the game," Jones said. "Brad makes a lot of plays and he's just got to keep getting better. Definitely when we're playing a team that's a little more physical we're going to have to make some adjustments in there. But I think those kids will match up with what New Mexico State does well pretty well this week."

C.J. Allen-Jones, Tyson Kafentzis, Karl Noa and Brashton Satele have all also started at outside linebacker this year.

Kafentzis started the first three games, but has been out since with an ankle injury. He ran in conditioning drills yesterday and might be able to play this week.

Grice-Mullins back?:

Starting slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, who led UH with 1,228 receiving yards last year, is almost back from an ankle sprain, suffered against Boise State last month.

He ran in conditioning drills yesterday and will try to practice this week.

"He ran some last week, but it felt a lot better today," Jones said. "You don't lose your job due to injury. Ross (Dickerson) played his best game this week. But Ryan is pretty good. Competition will make him even better."

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UPWARD TREND

Colt Brennan's passing stats have improved as the season progresses:

	Att	Comp	Int	Pct	Yards	TD
at Alabama	44	30	1	68.2	350	2
UNLV	35	24	2	68.6	296	2
at Boise State	36	25	1	69.4	388	5
Eastern Illinois	41	30	1	73.2	409	5
Nevada	47	36	0	76.6	419	4
at Fresno State	39	32	0	82.1	409	5
Totals	242	177	5	73.1	2,271	23