Piland earns UH's starting QB gig; O'Korn to play in opener

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Houston coach Tony Levine said Friday night that junior David Piland will begin the season as the Cougars' starting quarterback.

Piland, who started 10 games for the Cougars last season, was in a five-way competition for the starting job in preseason camp with sophomore Bram Kohlhausen, junior college transfer Billy Cosh and true freshmen John O'Korn and Greg Ward in preseason camp.

O'Korn, the highly touted quarterback from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas, will be the backup to begin the season, Levine said.

Both will play in the Aug. 30 season opener against Southern.

Last season, Piland threw for 2,929 yards with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Piland was limited late in the season by head and leg injuries.

As a true freshman in 2010, Piland was forced into the starting job when Case Keenum and backup Cotton Turner suffered season-ending injuries.

Piland finished the season completing 58.3 percent of his passes for 2,641 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Two-year starter David Piland will be under center come the Cougars' opener August 30 against Southern. Two-year starter David Piland will be under center come the Cougars' opener August 30 against Southern. Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Piland earns UH's starting QB gig; O'Korn to play in opener 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

In two seasons, the Cougars are 6-12 with Piland as the starter.

O'Korn led St. Thomas Aquinas to the Florida Class 7A state title as a senior, throwing for 2,552 yards with 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also ran for nearly 600 yards and 15 touchdowns.