Dru Brown decides to leave UH

In a family-based decision, starting quarterback Dru Brown has decided to leave the University of Hawaii football program and play his senior season elsewhere.

Brown, who has started 22 consecutive games, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree after the first summer session in June. After that, he is free to transfer without redshirting. Because he has not redshirted during his three-year college career — he played one season at College of San Mateo before joining the Rainbow Warriors in July 2016 — Brown also has the option to sit out a year.

Brown apologized for leaving head coach Nick Rolovich in a “tough spot.” The Warriors are set to re-install the run-and-shoot offense when spring practice begins on March 21. The Warriors ran a hybrid offense in Rolovich’s first two years as head coach.

But Brown expressed an interest in playing closer to his family’s home in Northern California. Brown was back home when his grandfather died during UH’s winter break.

“This decision has nothing to do with football,” Brown said. “The (run-and-shoot) offense seems it’ll be fun to run. It’s very quarterback friendly. But I feel this is the best decision for me. … Family comes before this game.”

Brown said he notified Rolovich last Thursday. Rolovich gave Brown the weekend to reconsider.

“I was conflicted making this decision,” Brown said. “It’s a tough spot to put (Rolovich) in. The way he handled the situation shows the type of man he is. … He handled it with class. It’s tough to leave him like this.”

Rolovich and Brown first met at Nevada’s football camp four years ago. At the time, Rolovich was the Wolf Pack’s offensive coordinator. Brown, who did not receive any FBS scholarship offers as a high school senior, enrolled at San Mateo. As a qualifier, he was eligible to transfer after his freshman season. The first offer came from Rolovich.

“He’s the one who saw something in me,” Brown said. “I’ll be forever grateful for that.”

Brown was installed as the starter in UH’s fifth game of the 2016 season. He was 6-4 after that, guiding the Warriors to the Hawaii Bowl.

This past season, Brown completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 2,785 yards, with 18 scoring throws against eight interceptions.

“Our main goal was for him to graduate,” Rolovich said. “He’s going to accomplish that. We wish him well.”

Rolovich praised Brown, saying, “I appreciate the things he did for the program and the community. He represented himself, his family, the university and the state well.”

After the 2017 season, quarterback Cole Brownholtz transferred to Incarnate Word, an FCS school in San Antonio. Cole McDonald and Larry Tuileta, who plays on the UH volleyball team, are the only returning scholarship quarterbacks. Kyle Gallup is returning to quarterback after practicing at tight end last year. UH’s offense no longer will employ a full-time tight end. Walk-on Justin Uahinui also is back.

Jeremy Moussa, a freshman from California, enrolled at UH this month. Chevan Cordeiro, who led Saint Louis School to the 2017 state championship, joins in June.

“It’s an opportunity for other guys,” Rolovich said. “The opportunity may have come sooner than they thought. I think they’re ready for it. Guys have to look at this as an opportunity.”