University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan has finally shed his backup role.

Brennan yesterday was named winner of the Sammy Baugh Trophy as college football's best quarterback.

The Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio) sponsors the award.

"That's awesome," Brennan said when told of the award following yesterday's practice. "I got one finally."

Brennan leads the nation in five of the seven significant categories for a quarterback, including total offense, touchdown passes and pass efficiency. But he placed no higher than second for quarterback honors and on All-America lists.

"I've been finishing in second or third the last couple of weeks," Brennan said. "It finally feels good to finish in first. That's great. I feel honored. I'm going to go on the Internet and find out things about Sammy Baugh."

It was surprising that a Columbus-based award went to anyone other than the hometown quarterback, Troy Smith of Ohio State.

"That really is unusual," said Dan Morrison, who coaches the UH quarterbacks. "I thought they'd present it to Troy Smith. Colt is very deserving. He had a phenomenal year. I'm glad he's getting recognized."

Told that he will be presented the award at a dinner in Columbus, Brennan said: "This is great. I met Troy (at an awards show). Maybe I'll call him up."

Brennan has produced despite playing all of this season with a lumbar strain that causes tightness in his hamstrings.

He needs one more touchdown pass to tie David Klinger's NCAA record of 54 in a season, set in 1990.

Brennan also is in contention to break the NCAA's passing-efficiency record of a 183.3 rating, set by Shaun King in 1998. Brennan's rating is 182.8 this season.

"Anytime someone on our team gets an award, it does good things for the program," Brennan said. "I really hope people will realize the success we had this year wasn't about one person. It seems everyone is focusing on me right now, but I wish a lot of the other guys would get more awards, too.

"Everything always seems to pan out for whatever reason. People like (offensive linemen) Sam (Satele) and Tala (Esera) are going to get their redemption on draft day. We have a great football team."

The trophy is named after the quarterback who was a two-time All-American at Texas Christian and played 16 seasons with the Washington Redskins.

The trophy has been presented annually since 1959. Past winners were Steve Young, John Elway, Daunte Culpepper, David Carr and Brady Quinn.

KEPO'O ON TARGET

In a sneak preview for spring practice, quarterback Kiran Kepo'o put on an impressive display during yesterday's workouts.

Kepo'o, a 2006 Iolani School graduate, officially joins the Warriors in January. But because UH is not in session, Kepo'o is allowed to practice with the Warriors.

"It's really nice to finally be out here with these guys," said Kepo'o, who was enrolled as a part-time UH student during the fall semester. "It's been a long wait. I had to be patient."

Kepo'o is 6 feet 1 1/4 and 218 pounds. He said he wants to weigh 225 at the start of spring practice in April.

He is one of the few left-handed UH quarterbacks in the past quarter century. Raphel Cherry was the only southpaw to start.

Brennan, who practiced in a separate group, said: "I heard he tore it up today. The word is he did really well. He was firing it. He showed a lot of potential."

Brennan and Kepo'o worked out together last summer. "Colt is always helping me out," Kepo'o said. "I pretty much know the basic plays."

After practice, Kepo'o threw passes to Eric Shaffer for about 30 minutes. Shaffer, like Kepo'o, joins the Warriors in January.

"I'm so anxious," said Shaffer, a graduate of Springdale Shilo Christian High School in Arkansas. "I've been waiting a long time. It's been hard waiting, but that makes me that much more hungry."

Shaffer, who is 5 feet 9 and 190 pounds, said he can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds. He will compete at wideout.

He was supposed to participate in workouts yesterday, but was delayed because of the difficulty in finding a helmet that fit.

But Shaffer, who was a part-time UH student in the fall, already is adjusting to the team's unwritten rules.

"I'm growing out my hair," he said. "I might have a ponytail. I'm in Hawai'i. I have to change my look."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.