It is still up in the air whether or not Everett Golson will return to Notre Dame to play quarterback in 2015, but if he does he leave South Bend then he should have some options worth evaluating. As many as 24 different schools have expressed some level of interest in being a landing spot for a transferring Golson, according to Brett McMurphy of ESPN (via Twitter). Golson to an SEC program though, could be unlikely.
SEC rules regarding transfers coming to a school in the SEC could prohibit Golson from being an option without approval from the conference office. As Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report points out, SEC guidelines note any student-athlete that has been subject to academic discipline during enrollment at any institution. A school may file for an appeal to that rule regarding transfers for students with fewer than two years of eligibility remaining (which would be Golson’s case as he is expected to graduate this spring from Notre Dame).Re: Golson transferring to the SEC, section D of grad. transfer rule could be a problem. There’s an appeal process. pic.twitter.com/vDQoCrW5LK
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) January 12, 2015
There are a number of teams around the SEC that could benefit from the addition of a solid quarterback. Golson ended his 2014 seaosn on a sour note but is a proven and experienced quarterback that would be considered a step-up for a handful of programs in the SEC and beyond. McMurphy noted six of the 24 schools expressing interest in Golson reside in the SEC< but where the remaining 18 schools come from is unconfirmed.
LSU has been the most trendy SEC school tied to the Golson transfer rumors, as well as Ohio State’s Braxton Miller. LSU needs ways to improve the passing offense in 2015, and the additions of either Golson or Miller would seem to be a step in the right direction. LSU head coach Les Miles has already stated the spring will open a new competition at quarterback between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris.