USC quarterback Max Wittek will not transfer to Hawaii — or any other NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision program — this summer, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has learned.
Wittek took an official recruiting trip to Hawaii in early March and also visited Texas three times.
But Wittek did not earn a bachelor’s degree at the end of USC’s recently completed spring semester, nullifying his hope of transferring this summer and playing for UH or Texas this coming season.
The NCAA requires a player to redshirt for a season after transferring. A player who earns a degree may transfer without restrictions and be eligible to play immediately. In 2012, quarterback Sean Schroeder earned a Duke degree and transferred to UH. He started 20 games in two seasons.
Wittek had hoped to earn a degree and have two seasons of eligibility at his new school. A personal situation delayed that schedule, and now Wittek is projected to earn a bachelor’s degree in December.
UH coach Norm Chow has not named a starting quarterback for the season opener against Washington. At the end of spring training, a depth chart was posted, with Ikaika Woolsey and Jeremy Higgins listed as the co-No. 1 quarterbacks.
Taylor Graham, who started three games last year after transferring from Ohio State in 2012, was on limited-contact status in spring training while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Graham is expected to be fully healthy for the May 27 start of the offseason conditioning program.
Quarterback Beau Reilly, who initially signed with Colorado State before going on a church mission, joins the Warriors this summer. Eric Prater, who completed a stint in the Army, will join as a walk-on.
The Warriors had been holding a scholarship for Wittek. It is not known if they will pursue another quarterback. Two other FBS quarterbacks who have earned degrees have expressed interest in transferring to UH.
