Jason Forcier, the University of Michigan’s No. 2 quarterback, will transfer to Stanford, Mike Eubanks of TheBootleg.com reported on Monday.

Due to NCAA transfer rules, Forcier will practice with the team next Fall, but will not be able to play in games. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns.

Forcier sought a transfer in the face of a playing-time bottleneck. Senior Chad Henne is a three-year starter, while incoming freshman Ryan Mallett is the second-rated quarterback in the entire class of 2011.

The 6-foot-2, 218-lb Southern California-native is one of head coach Jim Harbaugh’s highest-profile recruiting catches to date. Harbaugh had also recruited him as head coach at the University of San Diego — Forcier’s father played quarterback for the Toreros — but the lifelong Michigan fan chose Ann Arbor instead.

“Leaving for Stanford, it’s a combination of things: being a little closer to home, and it’s a great school where I think I can push myself even farther with my academics,” Forcier told TheBootleg.com.

The run-pass threat was a two-year starter at suburban Los Angeles’ Mater Dei High School (USC star Matt Leinart’s alma mater) before transferring to St. Augustine in San Diego. In his senior season, Forcier threw for 2,915 yards and 40 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,014 yards and 16 touchdowns.

At Michigan, Forcier saw mop-up action in five games in 2006. He completed three passes for 30 yards and rushed twice for 14 yards.

Starting quarterback T.C. Ostrander will use his final year of eligibility this fall. Junior Tavita Pritchard and rising redshirt freshman Alex Loukas will battle for the backup job this fall. With the transfer, highly regarded incoming freshman quarterback/safety Kellen Kiilsgaard will likely move to the defensive backfield to patch up the Cardinal’s depleted secondary.

The official announcement ends months of speculation. On Mar. 26, Michigan blogger Brian Cook posted on mgoblog.blogspot.com that Forcier intended to transfer to Stanford. Eubanks confirmed the intent, but said he still needed to be admitted and file transfer paperwork. Forcier was admitted to Stanford on April 12 — his 21st birthday.

“I cannot wait to have a chance to get started at one of the best institutions in the country,” he said to TheBootleg.com, “and also to play BCS football with a new, up-and-coming coach.”