Listed behind 2 other returnees, UH QB Moussa will transfer

The University of Hawaii football team’s most powerful deep-throwing quarterback has decided to transfer to a junior college, head coach Nick Rolovich confirmed to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Jeremy Moussa faced a situation in which he would enter next week’s start of the spring semester with fourth-year junior Cole McDonald and second-year freshman Chevan Cordeiro atop the depth chart. Last month, the Rainbow Warriors signed quarterback Zach Daniel of The Kinkaid School in Houston.

Moussa was a record-setting quarterback at Eleanor Roosevelt High in Eastvale, Calif. In January 2018, he enrolled at UH as an early admission. He participated in the offseason conditioning program and spring training, then attended his high school’s commencement ceremony in May.

Last season, he played in two games — a limitation that enabled him to preserve his redshirt status and still have four years of eligibility following the 2018 season. Moussa completed four of nine passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

“I think he’s got the ability to be a great quarterback,” Rolovich said of Moussa. “I appreciate his maturity, and how he handled the situation. We wish him nothing but the best. He gave us everything he had while he was here, and we hate to see him go. I understand the situation.”

For two years, McDonald was an understudy to Dru Brown, who joined Oklahoma State as a graduate transfer in June 2018. While McDonald had been viewed as a running quarterback, he made an easy transition to a restructured UH offense that incorporated more run-and-shoot concepts in 2018. In 13 games (12 starts), McDonald threw for 3,875 yards and 36 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. His 146.5 efficiency rating was the highest for a UH full-time starter since Bryant Moniz’s 159.11 rating in 2010.

Cordeiro, who played in a similar-themed offense at Saint Louis School, directed two game-winning drives the past season. By playing in four games — the NCAA limit to redshirt — Cordeiro has four seasons of eligibility remaining.

Justin Uahinui is returning as a third-year sophomore. Larry Tuileta and Kolney Cassel have completed their UH eligibility. The Warriors are expected to add another quarterback during the next signing period that begins on Feb. 6.