Fewer positions in college football are as scrutinized more than the starting quarterback at the University of Notre Dame.
Playing in the shadows of Touchdown Jesus and the fervent crowd in South Bend, Indiana, as millions across the country watch on NBC has seen the Fighting Irish signal callers succumb to the pressure under head coach Brian Kelly.
Last year’s starter, Tommy Rees has been suspended following a spring arrest following an off-campus party, and Andrew Hendrix is seen as more of a stop gap rather than a fixture at the position.
The official word is yet to come down, but the growing sentiment around South Bend is that the starting quarterback for Notre Dame will be redshirt freshman signal caller Everett Golson.
Golson had a sensational prep career in South Carolina that saw the six-foot 185 pounder throw 151 touchdown passes and finish as the runner-up for the Mr. Football of South Carolina.
The award went to the top recruit in the nationn, JaDaveon Clowney.
Golson is bringing with him a reputation to South Bend as a winner as his 44-5 career prep record and state titles in football and basketball will suggest.
A school that has struggled with inconsistency and staying relevant in the hierarchy of college football, Golson may bring an element that Notre Dame has lacked in recent memory.
Golson is a dual threat at the quarterback position and is capable of making plays with his right arm as well as his legs. Kelly has had a fun new toy to experiment with during spring ball and summer practices and by all accounts Golson has continued to impress.
According to Kelly, the redshirt freshman Golson has thrived in his opportunities and has thrown just one pass to the opposing defense in his passes during the off-season practices.
Kelly knows what he has in Andrew Hendrix who had stints last season to no great success, but the wildcard in the quarterback derby in South Bend is the talented but inexperienced Golson.
A decision about the starting quarterback will be made in the coming days, and if Golson is indeed named the starting quarterback for the season opener vs. Navy in Dublin on September 1st, then Tommy Rees may have a difficult time getting his old job back.
