Houston QB D'Eriq King plans to sit out season

PHOTOS: A look at all the quarterbacks on the current UH roster

Houston quarterback D'Eriq King (4) leaves the field with his teammates after their NCAA college football game against Prairie View A&M Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Houston, Texas. Houston quarterback D'Eriq King (4) leaves the field with his teammates after their NCAA college football game against Prairie View A&M Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Houston, Texas. less PHOTOS: A look at all the quarterbacks on the current UH roster

Houston quarterback D'Eriq King (4) leaves the field with his teammates after their NCAA college football game against Prairie View A&M Houston quarterback D'Eriq King (4) leaves the field with his teammates after their NCAA college football game against Prairie View A&M ... more Photo: Michael Wyke/Contributor Photo: Michael Wyke/Contributor Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Houston QB D'Eriq King plans to sit out season 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Houston quarterback D'Eriq King and wide receiver Keith Corbin plan to redshirt this season and return to the program in 2020, the players said in a statement Monday.

"I came here to play football for the University of Houston and that is not changing," King said in a statement released by the school.

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The news comes on the week of UH's fifth game of the season, a deadline to make decisions on whether to play this season or sit. A new NCAA rule implemented last season allows for a player to appear in a maximum four games and still be able to retain a year of eligibility. Both King and Corbin have played in all four games this season and another appearance would cause them to lose their eligibility.

"After carefully thinking through this process with my family and Coach (Dana) Holgorsen, I have decided the opportunity to redshirt this season gives me the best chance to develop as a player, earn my degree and set me up for the best success in the future," King added in the statement. "I'm looking forward to being a part of the success of this program going forward."

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In four games this season, King has thrown for 663 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 312 yards and six TDs. But the Cougars are off to a 1-3 start – the program's worst since 2012.

In last week's 38-31 loss to Tulane – which came on a 53-yard touchdown pass with 3 seconds left after UH had gone ahead with a field goal – King set the FBS record with his 15th consecutive game with at least one passing and rushing touchdown.

King was regarded as a Heisman Trophy candidate last season, throwing for 2,982 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior before suffering a knee injury and missing the final 2 ½ games.

Corbin, also a senior and among UH's top receivers, has 11 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

Both King and Corbin were part of the Cougars' heralded 2016 recruiting class.

"Having the opportunity to take time and focus on the completion of my degree, plus having the chance to develop as a student-athlete is why I have decided to redshirt for the remainder of the 2019 season," Corbin said in a statement. "Coach Holgorsen, myself and my family both took time to make this decision. Being a Cougar has been one of the best decisions I have made, and I'm ready to take this time to help our program develop for the future."

Sophomore Clayton Tune is expected to be the Cougars' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

Browse through the photos at the top of the page for a look at all the quarterbacks on the current University of Houston roster.