Ranking the 10 best small school college football QBs of all time
By Zach Bigalke
Colt Brennan took a circuitous path to Hawaii. Originally a walk-on with the Colorado Buffaloes, he was kicked off the team in 2004 after an alleged sexual assault. He landed at Saddleback College in 2004, from which he was offered an opportunity to play at Hawaii or San Jose State. Brennan chose to play on the island for June Jones, and over his three years in Hawaii he helped the Rainbow Warriors become a BCS Buster.
Hawaii went 5-7 in 2005, Brennan’s first season as the starter. Even in a down year he led the FBS with 4,300 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. That foreshadowed his breakout 2006 campaign. As a junior with the Warriors, Brennan led FBS quarterbacks as he threw for over 5,500 yards while completing 72.6 percent of his passes. He also set a single-season record for quarterbacks with 58 touchdown passes. Hawaii went 11-3, their only conference loss coming to Boise State. The following year, Hawaii got its own turn at a BCS game.
In Brennan’s senior season, the Rainbow Warriors went 12-0 in the regular season to win the WAC. Brennan threw for 4,343 yards and 38 touchdowns, but fell flat against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl after Hawaii earned a BCS invitation. A sixth-round pick of Washington in the 2008 NFL Draft, Brennan spent three years in the NFL before bouncing around the CFL and Arena Football. He still holds the record for the most 400-yard passing games (20) in college football history.