It took less than a week for the Everett Golson rumor mill to get going. After the ESPN broadcast during the Music City Bowl widely speculated about Golson’s role in the program, a Times-Picayune report claims Golson reached out to LSU about potentially playing out his eligibility for Les Miles and the Tigers.
After seeing LSU’s quarterback situation firsthand, you could hardly blame Golson for inquiring. But the Irish quarterback took to Twitter to quickly refute those rumors, which won’t likely stop from churning until early June, when Golson reports to somewhere for summer school.
Until then, Golson is Notre Dame’s quarterback. What role that means? Only Golson can truly determine that.
Don't believe everything you hear..
— Everett Golson (@Everett_Golson5) January 5, 2015
As we saw against LSU in the Music City Bowl, Malik Zaire offers an intriguing offensive option, especially as a running quarterback. With the chance that all five starting linemen from the bowl game return to their positions -- Ronnie Stanley the wildcard with his NFL draft future still undetermined -- the Irish should be able to ride a strong running game in 2015, especially with Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant continuing to emerge as a 1-2 punch.
Of course, the passing attack shouldn’t be anything to shrug at, either. Will Fuller is coming off a record-shattering sophomore season. Corey Robinson was an Academic All-American. Every reception from the receiving corps is back, with Chris Brown, C.J. Prosise, Amir Carlisle and Torii Hunter all returning. Golson is the team’s most gifted passer, even though Zaire showed promise against USC and LSU.
Before Golson can do anything, he needs to graduate. Though a degree in his hands doesn’t necessarily give him a green light to LSU, either. Conference guidelines passed in 2014 allow graduate student transfers immediate eligibility, but Golson’s academic suspension would likely require a waiver being approved.
On track to graduate this may means Golson will be on campus -- and likely participating in spring practice. That’s where he’ll spend time with the offensive coaching staff and start to understand the plan for 2015 moving forward. After his head coach lived through growing pains throughout 12 starts, it’d be shocking to see Kelly move on now.
In the world of breaking news, this story is the ultimate irony. We won’t know until May what’s going to happen. Until then, Golson remains a huge piece of the puzzle for a 2015 football team with sky-high expectations.