Myrtle Beach quarterback Everett Golson was committed to North Carolina since February, but lingering concerns over the NCAA investigation in Chapel Hill got the dual threat signal caller to reconsider his options. On Thursday, Golson decided to switch his pledge to Notre Dame.
Golson (6’0″, 170 lbs) is a legit dual threat quarterback – something Notre Dame does not currently have amongst the four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster right now – and will be enrolling early next month. That will allow Golson to compete in spring practice this year.
As a junior, Golson put up some eye popping numbers. He completed 224 of 356 attempts (62.9%) for 3,529 yards with 47 touchdowns compared to just 3 interceptions. Slowed by injury this season, Golson’s numbers are quite as eye popping, but they are still impressive none the less. He’s completed 90 of 133 attempts for 1,590 yards with 22 touchdowns to just a single interception. That gives Golson a touchdown to interception ratio of 69 to 5 over the last two seasons. Regardless of the level of competition, that is just a ridiculous ratio.
On top of some gaudy stats, Golson brings a history of winning with him to South Bend. As a sophomore, Golson led his Myrtle Beach HS team to the state championship in 2008 and then brought them back to the title game again last year though they came up short. This weekend, Golson will try to lead his team to another state championship this weekend against South Pointe.
Despite garnering only three stars from Rivals, Golson has an impressive offer list with scholarships from the likes of Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Stanford, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech. Both Scout and Rivals, however, list Golson as a 4-star recruit.
While the NCAA investigation played in a role in Golson reopening his recruitment, he told the State that the investigation was only a small factor in his decision:
“(The NCAA investigation) really didn’t have a major part to do with (the decision), but it had a small factor in it, and I think it’s only right that it should have a small factor in it,” Golson said. “North Carolina was my childhood favorite. I kind of grew up always wanting to go to North Carolina. After I matured, I had to go for what was best for me and my future and my family.”
One important factor in his decision, however, was the ability to play basketball. He had planned on playing both basketball and football for the Tar Heels and he intends on doing the same at Notre Dame. While on his visit to Notre Dame for the Utah game last month, Golson met with Irish head coach Mike Brey to discuss what role he could play on the Notre Dame basketball team. While he will be playing hoops for the Irish in addition to football, his scholarship will count towards football.
Golson’s commitment could make for a wide open quarterback competition in the spring – especially if Dayne Crist ends up missing spring practice while he recovers from his latest knee injury. Enrolling early will be key for Golson as he will need to spend some time in the weight room working with Paul Longo to bulk up before next season in order to seriously compete for a starting role.
This was a huge pickup for Notre Dame. With Dayne Crist suffering another serious injury this year, the Irish needed to add a quarterback in the class and they landed a great one in Everett Golson. This is also Notre Dame’s second commitment of the week and gives them a little momentum after this year’s class lost some steam following a string of decommitments.
Notre Dame now has 18 commitments with three of them early enrollees – Golson, Kyle Brindza, and Brad Carrico. Two Notre Dame decommitments, Aaron Lynch and Clay Burton, were originally scheduled to be early enrollees; and current commitment Matt Hegarty will not be enrolling early even though he had previously planned to.
We’ll have some highlights of Notre Dame’s latest commitment in a little.
Yes, Everett Golson is exactly what we need. One of the things I used to hate to see was when Clausen was qb was that he could not run. He either had to get rid of the ball or make a poor effort to run.
Yes, we won a national championship with Tony Rice who was a good runner and passer. Incidentally was Tony related to Condoleezza Rice as she also went to Notre Dame.
I disagree about Clausen. QB’s with little mobility have won at every level of competition for the last 40 years. The key is the offensive system in place. With Weis, QB mobility outside the pocket meant little. With Kelly, it means a lot more – which is why mobility will open things up.
Down the recruiting home stretch, I’d really love to see ND add some OL and DL. That’s our weakness, as far as depth is concerned. The skill positions are set, at least for next year. Especially if Floyd and Rudolph come back.
What about Tyrod Taylor of VT.Very good runner and passer, I believe Tyrod is 6-1 so Everett is about an inch shorter.I like the Troy Smith comparison also and hope he turns out that good(maybe a little more accurate then Smith)lol.I’m excited about the recruits we have and am hoping we get.Christian French is going to give his verbal tomorrow, Brennen Scarlett is another to watch, Kelly went and visited him right after the USC game, Brennen is from Oregon.Ishaq Williams is another to watch for.Tom Lemming has said that ND is recruiting Christian French as a WR, ND is the only school doing so and is the position he wants to play.French is 6-6 220.I would rather see him on defense, but he would be a match up problem for anybody as a WR.
How about a little guy named Flutie, I think he was OK
Similar to Donovan McNabb maybe? Without being 6 ft 3 of course
I don’t know if I would compare him to Donovan McNabb. McNabb had/has a HUGE arm. Golson doesn’t strike me as a guy who can throw it 72 yards on a rope. Also, half of what made McNabb a great runner was his size. He’s a big guy, built more like a fullback. Golson is smaller, both in stature and weight. Again, I go back to comparing him to Troy Smith at OSU. And if he plays half as good as Smith did, we’ll have a NC during his tenure.
Someone made a comment about Drew Brees and Denard Robinson. Those are poor analogies IMO. On the contrary, he reminds me more of Troy Smith of Ohio State. Not exceptionally tall or big, but throws a great ball, and has the elusiveness to evade pressure and scramble.
I think this is a great get for the Irish. I have no idea if he’ll start right away, but I see his scrambling ability opening up the running game, and his accuracy flourishing in Kelly’s high-speed spread offense.
I agree completely. He’s much too proficient of a passer to be compared to the likes of Denard, and much too quick & nimble of a runner to be compared w/ Brees who, in my eyes is simply elusive in the pocket, but not a “running back w/ an arm” like Golson seems to be.
Troy Smith is an excellent comparison, as would be Marcus Vick, who was also an amazing pass/run qb, just not as superhuman as his brother.
Regardless of the comparisons, it’s a good thing for ND football!
I was encourage by the offensive line bullying the SC defense at the end of last week’s game. For any QB to be success, he needs a tough o-line that dominates.
I’m very excited about this commitment. He certainly brings a skill set that we need but I do have a couple of concerns.
I hate to be that guy but he’s kinda small for a QB. 6′-170?! His offensive line is all 6’2″+ and many defensive lines will be much…much taller than him.
Rees is having balls tipped at the line of scrimmage. Perhaps I’m being stubborn on what I think a QB should look like 6’3″+ but it’s just the way I see it.
I just looked up D. Robinson from UM and he’s only 6′, so I guess a guy can be a bit smaller and do very well.
All in all I guess I wanted Bresston but I’m happy that we brought this kid in. I wish him well! B
IrishChan,
I can only give you one QB name that will put you at ease, Drew Brees.
I thought that too at first but once you see him play, it’s clear height wan’t be much of an issue. He nearly always rolls out which gives him a different sight line and flight path thereby reducing the chances of a knockdown. Also, I’ve noticed that if he does stay in the pocket, he’s very good at pump faking and throwing on the linemens downfall.
He reminds me Tony Rice 😉
His size worries me, but with him lining up in shotgun formations could negate his smaller stature.
Hopefully he handles the size issue like drew brees has…..
“our way”, sorry
Man it feels great to finally have all the breaks going our for a change.Go Irish!