Today is the countdown to the start of the rest of quarterback Colt Brennan's football life.

The first two rounds of the National Football League draft are today. The final five rounds are tomorrow.

With all of the questions surrounding him, Hawai'i's only Heisman Trophy finalist is ready to tee off.

"I'll get up and play golf," Brennan said.

His family has rented a beach house on Balboa Island. He said his weekend plans include fishing and, most likely, a barbecue. Chicken, steak. fresh corn. "My dad loves corn," Brennan said.

After amassing the best statistical season by a quarterback in NCAA history in 2006 — a formula that factors yards, touchdown passes, interceptions and accuracy — it was projected that Brennan, if he applied for the 2007 draft, might be a top-10 selection.

More than a year later — and after finishing third in the 2007 Heisman voting — Brennan's stock has fallen dramatically. Where he will be selected has drawn diverse opinions.

Through a perfect 12-0 regular season, Brennan was regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects. The blowout loss in the Sugar Bowl, he acknowledged, was "devastating, in a sense. I remember people telling me, 'the most important thing right now is to win this game. This will be the first big step.' We didn't win the game."

A week before the Senior Bowl, Brennan suffered flu-like symptoms. He lost several pounds, and weighed in at 185 pounds. At nearly 6 feet 3, Brennan, the scouts had hoped, would have weighed at least 200.

He also suffered a small tear in the labrum near his right hip, an injury that eventually would require surgery.

And, for many, that is where the story ended. Two months later, some self-styled draft experts still reported that Brennan weighed 185.

After that Senior Bowl weigh-in, Brennan said, "People wanted to get on the bandwagon that 'Colt isn't that good.' "

The criticism, Brennan said, "could easily be dispelled and looked in a truthful perception."

For instance, Brennan played well enough in the Senior Bowl practices to be voted, by his teammates, as a game captain. He was named a starter.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, he was the only quarterback credited with a perfect score — 21 of 21 — in the passing drills. Three of his completions were for more than 40 yards.

In his three-year UH career, in fact, Brennan completed better than 50 percent of his deep passes (that traveled more than 20 yards in the air from the line of scrimmage). Because he took at least a three-step drop out of the shotgun, his deep passes traveled at least 27 yards. The UH goal is to complete a third of those passes.

Brennan weighed 207 at the combine and 218 at the April 1 Pro Day workout.

Brennan underwent successful labrum surgery March 6. Before the procedure, he had difficulty sitting for long periods. After the surgery, those symptoms were gone. He had no discomfort during the next day's drive from Vail, where the surgery was performed, to the Denver airport, and none on the flight to Orange County.

Overcoming injuries is not unique to Brennan. He suffered a fractured finger on his right (throwing) hand, then came back to help his prep school win the final five games. He was named New England's top prep academy player. He played most of last season with a sprained right ankle that required pain-killing shots before several games.

Brennan remains confident he will be in an NFL camp this summer.

He said his rehabilitation program might allow him to compete in some of the mini camps.

He said his post-rehab plan is "to work my butt off. ... I'll be an absolute animal."

He added: "If they want a big ol' quarterback who can bring it, that's what they'll get."

For now, Brennan is going to make the most of the waiting period.

"All I can do," he said of his future plans, "is go on the field and have success."

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.