Houston senior quarterback D’Eriq King will opt out of his senior season and take a redshirt year, although he did not announce a decision to transfer.
King, taking advantage of the NCAA’s four-game redshirt rule, announced Monday he won’t play the rest of the season, preserving a full season of eligibility. Earlier in the day, his father, Eric King, told the FOX affiliate in Houston that his son intended to transfer.
Houston is off to 1-3 start under first-year coach Dana Holgorsen.
“I came here to play football for the University of Houston and that is not changing,” D’Eriq King said in a statement. “After carefully thinking through this process with my family and Coach Holgorsen, I have decided the opportunity to redshirt this season gives me the best chance to develop as a player, earn my degree and set me up for the best success in the future. I’m looking forward to being a part of the success of this program going forward.”
King’s statement came after his father told the television station that a transfer was “the best decision for him at this point.” Eric King added: “Very, very tough (decision). He’s got a lot of teammates riding on him. Sometimes you got to be a little self-centered and do what’s best for you.”
Senior receiver John Corbin also announced Monday he would sit out the rest of the season and redshirt. Corbin, who caught 10 touchdown passes last season, has 11 catches for 192 yards and two scores in 2019.
“Having the opportunity to take time and focus on the completion of my degree, plus having the chance to develop as a student-athlete is why I have decided to redshirt for the remainder of the 2019 season,” Corbin said in a statement. “Coach Holgorsen, myself and my family both took time to make this decision.”
King has been an offensive force for a Houston team that fell 38-31 on Thursday after a last-second touchdown by Tulane. King passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns in that game and also gained 125 yards on the ground with another score.
The Manvel, Texas, native has passed for 663 yards and six TDs this season, and also rushed for 312 yards and six more TDs. Thursday’s game was his 15th consecutive with a passing and rushing TD, breaking the record set by Florida’s Tim Tebow.
King accounted for 50 touchdowns in 11 games last season — 36 passing, 14 rushing.
