Former Penn State quarterback Michael O'Connor commits to UBC

Vancouver, BC - Former Penn State quarterbackMichael O'Connor will transfer to UBC and has committed to play forthe Thunderbirds beginning in the fall of 2015.

In just over a month on the job, new UBChead football coach BlakeNill is wasting little time puttingtogether his team for the 2015 season. His biggest coup no doubt isthe commitment of O'Connor who was ranked the No. 6 quarterback byESPN in the entire 2014 recruiting class.

"Having Michael, who was recognized asone of the this year's top NCAA transfer prospects, commit to UBCover countless offers speaks volumes to the academic reputation ofthis university and the culture we are building with theThunderbirds football program," said Nill.

A native of Ottawa, Ontario, O'Connorplayed his final two years of high school football in the UnitedStates. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 230 pounds, he playedhis junior season at the Baylor School in Tennessee, beforeattending the renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida where heplayed under the tutelage of former Heisman Trophy Winner ChrisWeinke.

He led IMG to an 8-2 record in 2013throwing for 1,804 yards and 18 touchdowns in 10 games. He wasnamed an Under Armour All-American.

"Michael is an outstanding, pro-stylequarterback," said Nill. "He is very intelligent player whom isconfident in his ability. He can make all the throws and will comeinto compete and raise the bar at the quarterback position here atUBC."

After receiving multiple scholarshipoffers out of high school from the likes of Michigan State,Mississippi State, Rutgers, and Vanderbilt, O'Connor chose PennState. He was originally recruited by Bill O'Brien, who would leavethe Nittany Lions. to take the Houston Texas head coaching jobbefore O'Connor's first season.

Despite O'Brien's departure, O'Connorstayed with Penn State and new head coach James Franklin. In lastyear's spring game, O'Connor finished 11-for-16 for 81 yards.However, he would be relegated to third-string in 2014 andofficially was a red-shirt. He will have all five years ofeligibility with the Thunderbirds and can playimmediately.

"I came in with the mandate to change theculture and take the UBC football program to another level," saidNill. "In terms of recruiting, our goal is to be the topdestination for student-athletes not only in British Columbia, butfrom across Canada. Getting Michael to join our program is thefirst step to reaching that goal."

O'Connor and the Thunderbirds will openthe 2015 season in Quebec City with an exhibition game against theUniversity of Laval on August 29.