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Gauging 5 most logical landing spots for Notre Dame transfer QB Everett Golson

By Will Osgood

Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Everett Golson (5) walks off the field after being hit on a play during the first half against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Everett Golson (5) walks off the field after being hit on a play during the first half against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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After Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson announced Thursday he was transferring, we took the chance to guess where he could end up. 

According to reports which surfaced Thursday, Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson is no longer playing football in South Bend under Brian Kelly.

The quarterback who burst onto the scene for the Fighting Irish in 2012 is available for anyone willing to take a chance. In the 2012 season, Golson was a key player in getting the Fighting Irish to the BCS National Championship Game before they ceremonially had their pants pulled down in public by the Alabama Crimson Tide.

During their season of destiny to that point, Golson was instrumental offensively, leading the Irish with nearly 2,500 yards passing and another 300 (298 to be exact) on the ground. Rushing and passing combined he accounted for 18 touchdowns, while turning the football over just six times.

He infamously missed the 2013 season due to academic eligibility issues, and though he came back in 2014 vowing to make the best of his failures, he clearly never re-earned the trust of head coach Brian Kelly–the Gary Williams of quarterbacks (Williams, the former Maryland men’s head basketball coach was known as being harder than any other head coach on his point guards).

In spite of the obvious issues, Golson managed double (and a half) his touchdown production through the air with 29 passing scores in 2014 and increase his rushing touchdowns to eight, while accounting 1,000 more yards of offense on the season and boosting his QB Rating from 131.0 to 143.6.

Nevertheless Golson was often benched in favor of Malik Zaire, including in the Irish’s bowl game against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl, though he did see some snaps.

The obvious question with his reported desire to transfer and the data presented–which proves he is more than capable of being a solid college quarterback–is where does he play next?

Here are five schools Golson should consider.

1. Florida State Seminoles

Florida State Seminoles fans are quite concerned about the quarterback position after losing Jameis Winston to the NFL, specifically the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sean Maguire performed admirably a season ago when Winston was suspended for the Clemson game, but it’s uncertain he’s the guy for the next two years.

He seems more like a filler-QB for a season after a Winston leaves for the NFL, is replaced for a year by Golson and then takes the job in his senior season before Jimbo Fisher finds his long-term answer in 2017.

Who knows if it’ll actually happen as such.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is another school which at first blush sounds crazy. But a key element in Golson’s search must be opportunity in 2015.  And he should also keep in mind the value of coaching and system.

Perhaps no school can match Alabama in those two areas. Lane Kiffin is the best pro-style offensive coordinator in college football, but a season ago he altered his offense to fit the skill set of Blake Sims, and Sims became one of the best passers in the country.

Golson is more talented than Sims but his skill set is similar. Kiffin could certainly operate such an offense once again, and though the Crimson Tide are not blessed with a Julio Jones or Amari Cooper every season, they’ll be immensely talented at the receiver spot again.

Plus, Jacob Coker could not beat out Sims a year ago, so what’s to make us think he could beat out Sims this year? Golson could have every chance to win the job this year.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones has done an amazing job in two seasons in Knoxville revamping the roster with talented players, regaining fan interest and support and has seen the results start to pour in positively.

Though Joshua Dobbs looked like the answer at quarterback in the latter of last season, he’ll be a junior next season, meaning he’s likely made the most improvement he will at any time in his career. Unless he improves dramatically next season, Golson would be a better option for the Vols in 2015. The team is close to being able to compete nationally now.

With Golson they could take the next step of being ready to compete in 2015. It’s a rather big “If”, but it is not inconceivable.

Of course there’s also the small possibility Dobbs improves so much in 2015 Golson is unnecessary.

4. Arizona State Sun Devils

Mike Bercovici took over for senior starter Taylor Kelly when he missed multiple games this past season due to injury, and frankly was a much better quarterback than Kelly. With a stronger arm, and probably a dose of the surprise element working in his favor, Bercovici tore defenses apart.

He will be a senior in the upcoming season, meaning the Sun Devils–who have become a perennial top-25 team in college football–will be looking for a quarterback in 2016. But in 2015, as good as Bercovici was as a replacement, Golson is better.

With their quarterback-friendly spread offense and an annual steady stream of offensive talent to boot, Golson could easily succeed in the desert for a season.

5. The Field

In reality, there are few power-5 schools who wouldn’t benefit from a season of Everett Golson running the offense. Though he does not project as a future NFL quarterback–this past draft proved such passers don’t exactly grow on trees. He’s the next best thing.

The LSU Tigers seem to be in a never-ending state of QB musical chairs and have one of the best teachers of the position in the game in the person of Cam Cameron. The UCLA Bruins have made few strides this Spring in their quest to replace Brett Hundley.

Though not the ideal offense for him, Golson could fare well in Noel Mazzone’s no-read passing scheme.

Those are just a few schools who would likely benefit from a year of Golson in 2015.

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