June 21, 2007

Houston - University of Houston director of athletics Dave Maggard announced that he has received information today that former Oklahoma State quarterback Al Peña has been granted a waiver by the NCAA to become immediately eligible to play for the Cougars in 2007.

"We felt that he had a good case and it was the right thing for the NCAA to do," Maggard said. "We are happy to have him in the program."

Peña comes to Houston after throwing for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 career games at Oklahoma State. He played in seven games for the Cowboys in 2005 when he threw for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns after completing 89 of 179 passes.

"This is a great opportunity for Al," Houston head coach Art Briles said. "He brings some maturity, depth and healthy competition to our quarterback position."

In 2005, Pena had the fifth-best passing performance in school history when he threw for a career-high 351 yards and four touchdowns at Baylor. That came after he passed for 194 yards and a touchdown at Texas A&M, threw for two TD's against Texas.

Pena also played in five games during the 2004 season at Oklahoma State when he completed seven of his 11 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

He went to Oklahoma State in the fall of 2003 after he attended Georgia Tech earlier that spring when he graduated from Lander High School early. During his senior season, he set a school record with 2,800 yards of total offense. He passed for 1,600 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns that season.

Pena will compete with sophomore Blake Joseph and redshirt freshman Case Keenum this fall for Houston's starting quarterback position after record-setting quarterback Kevin Kolb graduated and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2006 NFL Draft.