The first order of business for new UBC Thunderbirds football coach Blake Nill has been a signing coup.
Nill landed former Penn State quarterback Michael O'Connor, who will transfer to UBC and for the start of the 2015 season.
O’Connor, an Ottawa native, was ranked the No. 6 quarterback by ESPN in the 2014 recruiting class but did not see much action last year as he played backup to a standout freshman. He will have five years eligibility at UBC.
The six-foot-five, 230-pound pivot played his final two years of high school in the U.S. and in the CIS, he will return to a three-down, 12-man game of football.
UBC confirmed Thursday morning what TSN reporter Farhan Lalji reported a day earlier.
QB Michael O'Connor, formerly of Penn State has signed with #UBCFootball. Best Cdn QB prospect since Jesse Palmer. HUGE coup for Blake Nill!
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 12, 2015
"Michael is an outstanding, pro-style quarterback," said Nill in a prepared statement.
"He is very intelligent player whom is confident in his ability. He can make all the throws and will come into compete and raise the bar at the quarterback position here at UBC."
The T-Birds open the 2015 season with an exhibition game against the University of Laval in Quebec City Aug. 29.
