Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who holds 20 NCAA passing and total offense records, has accepted an invitation to play in the 2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Jan. 26.

The week of practice and a 3 p.m. kickoff will give the prolific quarterback -- who has helped his team to a 7-0 record this season while passing for 2,395 yards and 20 touchdowns -- a chance to showcase his skills in front of NFL coaches and a broader television audience. Hawaii's games aren't often broadcast on TV on the mainland or are shown at a late hour, so Colt Brennan isn't a household name to some college football fans.

The 6-foot-3, 196-pounder from Irvine, Calif., said he is looking forward to the opportunity provided by the Senior Bowl.

"For me, the Senior Bowl is important and it's a big game," Colt Brennan told the Press-Register in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. "I'm kind of one of those guys who has a lot of questions surrounding him. The Senior Bowl will give me the chance to answer all of those questions.

"This is the best game you can go to and have a chance to perform in front of NFL coaches and scouts and play for an NFL coaching staff. It will be a chance for me to be up close with those people and for them to get a chance to see me play and for me to answer all their questions."

Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said seeing Colt Brennan in person at last weekend's Hawaii at San Jose State game answered any questions he might have had.

"In that game, I really got an appreciation of some of the special skills he possesses," Hale said. "They were down 14 points with four minutes to play in bad (weather) conditions. ... He led his team by throwing for a touchdown and later running for a touchdown, and leading them to the win (42-35) in overtime.

"In that game, he showed how competitive he is, as well as the intangibles he has to offer other than his gift for throwing the football. When you watch him play and how his teammates respond to him, you realize pretty quick they believe that if he's in the game they have a great chance to win the game."

Colt Brennan was 44-of-75 for 545 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

Certainly, Colt Brennan's impressive stats serve as testament to his abilities. He has thrown for 12,245 yards and a whopping 113 touchdowns thus far in his college career. Last season, he set an NCAA record for touchdown passes in a season (58) while also leading the nation in passing efficiency (185.96), also an NCAA record. In 2006, he led the nation in total offense (422.5 yards per game), completion percentage (72.6) and passing yards (5,549).

Colt Brennan broke or tied 41 school records last year. He also broke or tied 18 NCAA marks and 17 Western Athletic Conference records. What makes those marks even more impressive is that he sat out the fourth quarter in six games. Colt Brennan was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year, winner of the Sammy Baugh Award, and placed sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting.

In January, he hopes to win over NFL scouts.

"Colt knows that Senior Bowl week is huge for him because he will be bringing his game to the NFL," Hale said. "It's hard for decision-makers to leave the mainland. But he can answer any of their questions when he's here."

Colt Brennan, who was USC Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart's backup at Mater Dei High School, helped lead Hawaii to an 11-3 record last year, the best in school history. He has also helped the Rainbow Warriors to a No. 16 national ranking.

And still, some college football fans know little about him.

"It can be frustrating," Colt Brennan said. "But that's just football."

It can also be frustrating, he said, to be typecast as a one-dimensional quarterback, another misconception he hopes to erase in Mobile.

"I think it all benefits me," he said. "I grew up playing in the West Coast offense. I didn't play in a shotgun offense until I got (to Hawaii). This offense is a lot of fun, but the whole offense runs on (the quarterback). That can be a lot of pressure. You have a chance to do some good things, but there's a lot of responsibility that comes with it. Some people don't understand that.

"Being at the Senior Bowl, I'll have a chance to show I can run whatever offense they put me in. There's a perception that I can only play in one style of offense. ... I think you have to be a student of the game, and I am. I also have a great passion for the game. I've been playing since the first year (of age eligibility) of Pop Warner."

The Senior Bowl game and practices will be broadcast live on the NFL Network. Will Colt Brennan and Hawaii be going to the Sugar Bowl this year?

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