Quarterback Forcier Not Enrolling at Hawaii

By Fred Guzman

Former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier apparently will not be enrolling at the University of Hawaii this fall, after all.

After a lengthy recent phone conversation with head coach Greg McMackin, Forcier was offered an official recruiting visit to Manoa.  But there was one major stipulation:  The university had to be in receipt of Forcier’s transcripts before his arrival.

The transcripts reportedly arrived on campus late last week and, apparently, the paperwork didn’t indicate that Forcier would become eligible for admission at UH by start of classes this fall.

Had he been admitted at UH, Forcier would have been allowed to practice but not play in games in 2011.  He then would have qualified to play two seasons starting in 2012.

That timetable would have worked perfectly for Hawaii, because starting QB Byrant Moniz and his backup, Shane Austin, will be fifth-year-seniors this season.  Moniz led the nation in passing last year, and Austin is a capable college quarterback.

That also sets the stage for a major battle for the starting QB job in 2012.  David Graves impressed the coaches as a freshman last season.  Also in the mix are Cayman Shutter, Kevin Spain and Jeremy Higgins – a transfer from Utah State.  And that’s not counting any other potential quarterback recruits.

So Forcier, one of the nation’s most highly-touted prep recruits in 2009, and a starter as a true freshman at Michigan that fall, is left still looking for a place to call his football home.

There were reports that San Jose State might be another option for Forcier.  The way things are looking now, the Spartans may have become his one and only option.