Everett Golson to transfer to Florida State
— -- Former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson will transfer and play his final college season with the Florida State Seminoles, a source confirmed to ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday.
The story was earlier reported by Fox Sports.
Golson, who announced his intentions to leave Notre Dame on May 7, had visited Florida State, Florida and Georgia last week before returning to Notre Dame for graduation Sunday. He had given a list of 10 schools to Notre Dame's compliance office as potential places to play his final year, a source told ESPN's Brett McMurphy.
With the Seminoles, Golson is expected to compete for the starting job with Sean Maguire, who exited the spring as next in line to replace former Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, the overall No. 1 pick in this year's NFL draft.
Maguire started one game in place of the suspended Winston, completing 21 of 39 passes in last season's 23-17 overtime win over Clemson, throwing one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
Golson started two years for the Fighting Irish, a career highlighted by a 12-1 season in 2012 that ended in the BCS title game, where the Irish lost 42-14 to Alabama.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Golson is the first quarterback since the BCS era began 1998 to transfer after starting in a national championship game.
Golson did not play during the 2013 season after he was suspended from Notre Dame for the fall semester because of what he deemed poor academic judgment. He returned to Notre Dame in the spring of 2014, leading the Irish to a 6-0 start and No. 5 ranking last fall before suffering a 31-27 loss at Florida State, in which an offensive pass interference penalty wiped away Golson's potential go-ahead touchdown pass with 13 seconds left.
Notre Dame went on to finish 8-5 in 2014, with Golson tallying 22 turnovers over a nine-game stretch to end the regular season. Golson was replaced by Malik Zaire in the regular-season finale at USC. Zaire then earned the starting job for the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl against LSU, though both quarterbacks played in the Irish's 31-28 win.
Reports surfaced shortly afterward about Golson seeking options elsewhere. Golson and Zaire split first-team reps throughout this spring at Notre Dame. Golson finished his Notre Dame career with a 17-6 record as a starter, completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 5,850 yards with 41 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He added 581 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
