Quarterback Colt Brennan could help himself considerably by returning to the University of Hawai'i for his senior year, ESPN analyst David Norrie said.

Norrie, a former UCLA and New York Jets quarterback, will be the analyst on today's ESPN showing of the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

Speculation is that today's game against Arizona State could be the last college appearance for Brennan, a redshirt junior, who has the option of bypassing his senior year to declare eligibility for the NFL draft.

"I personally feel, after watching him play and also visiting with the coaches, that he would really benefit from an additional year (at UH) in terms of his draft status and also his development as a quarterback," Norrie said. "I think there are some things that he needs to get done physically. I think he needs to get stronger. The coaches talk about him continuing to work in the weight room to get an NFL body. It is a 16-game (NFL) schedule and you take a lot of pounding at that level."

Brennan, who needs two touchdown passes to break David Klingler's 16-year old NCAA single-season mark of 54, is 6-feet-3 and 196 pounds.

Norrie said, "I think Colt is going to mature more physically. I think he's gonna be in the weight room, and I think doing that helps him from a physical standpoint and I think (returning to UH) helps him in seeing things as a quarterback on the field. I think there is no doubt he'll have a significantly better position (in the draft) if he comes back for another season."

The ASU game will be Brennan's second national appearance on television this year and first in prime time. Should he return for a senior year at UH, the showing today will help kick off his Heisman Trophy campaign.

"He hasn't had a lot of opportunities this year for a national audience to really see him play," Norrie said, "and, because of that, I think this is a very important game for him in terms of next year. I think there is no doubt, after being in the top 6 in the Heisman Trophy voting this year, this is really a showcase for him. I think it could really propel him into the top 3 or 4 for next year. That he doesn't get that many opportunities to display his talents throughout the year makes this game all that much bigger."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.