Houston quarterback John O’Korn has been granted permission to contact others schools about transferring, according to a source.

Houston quarterback John O’Korn has been granted permission to contact others schools about transferring, according to a source.

O'Korn would still have to receive his release from Houston, which is only considered a formality. His dropback passing does not fit the spread-option offense of new Houston coach and current Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior-to-be has three years to play two seasons. After being named the American Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Year as a true freshman in 2013, O’Korn entered this past season with high expectations but lost his starting job after five games to converted wide receiver Greg Ward, Jr.

O’Korn’s commitment to Houston was consider a coup as the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native set single-season records at nationally renowned powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas as a senior and was named MVP of the Florida Class 7A state title game. O’Korn only started at Aquinas his senior year, by which time then-Houston coach Tony Levine had already offered him a scholarship. Although offers from SEC and ACC schools came in as O’Korn’s star rose, he stayed loyal to Houston.

After being thrust in the starting role three weeks into his true freshman season when David Piland got hurt, O’Korn shined, passing for 3,117 yards with 28 touchdowns as the Cougars went 8-5. However, Houston’s 2014 campaign got off to a disastrous start as O’Korn tossed four interceptions in a season-opening 27-7 loss to UTSA. After completing just over 50 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and eight interceptions, O’Korn was benched five games into the season.

Houston fired Levine at the end of the regular season, replacing him with Herman. The Cougars rallied from a 25-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Pittsburgh in the Armed Forces Bowl under interim head coach David Gibbs. O’Korn did not appear in the bowl victory.

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