How Everett Golson upgraded in 2014
— -- This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's October 13 Cleveland Issue. Subscribe today!
YOU REMEMBER Everett Golson 1.0: the good, but not great, quarterback who took Notre Dame to the BCS title game two years ago. Golson 2.0? During his season-long suspension for "academic impropriety," he worked with guru George Whitfield and has since emerged as a Heisman dark horse for the Irish. What's the secret to his upgrade -- and can it hold up under the pressure of Stanford on Oct. 4?
Pocket Changes
Golson's nine in-the-pocket pass TDs through Week 5 were three more than his entire 2012 total. Part of that is physical -- he's 15 pounds heavier, now playing at 200 pounds -- but the real difference is mechanical. "His arm is so strong that he became too reliant on it," says Whitfield. "Now he knows to establish a base with his feet, step through it and throw with his body."
? Seeing Cardinal red: Golson has put up solid numbers against the blitz this year (35-of-51 with four pass TDs through Week 5) and could rack up more come Week 6. Despite leading the nation in sacks last year (44), Stanford has managed a more pedestrian 11 in its 3-1 start.
Vision Quest
He threw 12 TDs and rushed for six more in 2012, but Golson admits to improvising on coach Brian Kelly's playbook. "There's knowing plays and understanding plays," says ESPN analyst Mike Bellotti. That short-term thinking led to short-field vision, especially against aggressive D's. "Now he stands in there, even under duress, and lets plays develop downfield," says ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill.
? Seeing Cardinal red: Golson has completed 42.9 percent of passes thrown 20 yards or more, compared with 36.3 in 2012, but Stanford boasts one of the nation's stingiest defensive backfields. It has allowed just two pass plays of 20-plus yards in its first four games.
Laced Up
Whitfield's biggest shock when Golson came to him last fall? "He'd spin the ball in order to avoid the laces," he says. "Do you know how strong your arm has to be to throw it like he did ... and pretty well?" After a lifelong habit of using his middle and ring fingers as one, he now spreads his hand over the leather, creating a more accurate touch -- especially on short screens, a Kelly staple.
? Seeing Cardinal red: Golson's much-improved touch -- his QBR has shot up from 67.2 in 2012 to 80.2 in 2014 -- goes against a Stanford defense that's one of just four in the country to hold opposing quarterbacks to a sub-20.0 QBR this season.
RETURNED MEN
Golson is not the only player back after an extended absence. Here's how four more are faring on their comeback tours.
Austin Hill
WR Arizona
After his breakout 2012 (team-high 1,364 yards, 11 TDs), hopes for an encore were dashed when Hill tore his ACL in a 2013 spring practice. The senior showed no rust in this year's return (92-yard TD against UNLV) but posted a quiet four grabs combined against UTSA and Nevada. Then Cal happened. Hill had one of the best games of his career (127 yards) and hauled in a Hail Mary to secure the 49-45 win. He'll hope for similar heroics on Oct. 11 against USC -- he torched the Trojans for 259 yards two seasons ago.
Jeff Driskel
QB Florida
Even before he went down with a season-ending leg injury last year, Driskel had never lived up to his blue-chip billing (12 TDs to 5 INTs, 56.0 QBR in 2012). New OC Kurt Roper's up-tempo ?offense was geared to get the junior rolling this year, but after career highs for completions (31) against Eastern Michigan and pass yards (295) vs. Kentucky, he regressed against Bama, struggling with reads and deep throws: 1-of-12 on passes of 15-plus yards. Driskel might need a big day against Tennessee on Oct. 4 to keep his starting job from freshman Treon Harris.
Jordan Hicks
LB Texas
The country's top-ranked LB recruit in 2010, Hicks has been productive -- when he stays healthy. He led the Longhorns in tackles last year (41 in four games) before rupturing his Achilles, and through Week 5 of this season the senior was back on top of the leaderboard with 55 tackles, adding 5½ TFL and two INTs for good measure. Texas just hopes his health holds out for Baylor (Oct. 4) and Oklahoma (Oct. 11). It'll need his exceptional downhill pursuit and ability to play in space to have a shot at upsets.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa
DE UCLA
Before a hip injury sidelined him for 2013, Odighizuwa had a productive 2012: 44 tackles, 3½ sacks, 2-and-a-half TFL. This season he's been up and down, much like his Bruins. He's compiled average stats (11 tackles, one TFL through Week 5) but had a key QB pressure against Virginia that led to a pick six. Odighizuwa will have a chance for more big plays when Oregon's injury-depleted O-line rolls into town on Oct. 11.