Everett Golson's transfer decision stirring SEC

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson (5) looks to a pass during hisl game against Northwestern in South Bend, Ind., in this Nov. 15, 2014 file photo.
Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson (5) looks to a pass during hisl game against Northwestern in South Bend, Ind., in this Nov. 15, 2014 file photo.

Three Eastern Division coaches in the Southeastern Conference took different routes Wednesday when addressing former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson.

Golson announced last week after his final round of exams that he would be spending his last year of eligibility at another school. The 6-foot, 200-pounder is from Myrtle Beach, S.C., so South Carolina quickly cropped up as a speculated destination, as did Florida and Georgia.

After visiting Atlantic Coast Conference power Florida State on Monday, Golson reportedly visited Florida on Tuesday and reportedly was considering a Wednesday trip to Georgia.

"Per NCAA rules, he's a prospective student-athlete, so I can't really comment on that part," Florida first-year coach Jim McElwain said on a conference call. "One thing that we are doing regardless of the position is looking to help the organization by filling holes where needed. Obviously him mentioning us is something that's exciting."

Golson led Notre Dame during the 2012 season to a berth in the BCS title game in Miami, where the Irish were crushed 42-14 by Alabama. He missed the following season due to an academic suspension and had mixed results last year, when he threw for 3,445 yards and 29 touchdowns but had a nation-leading 22 turnovers.

Florida is down to two scholarship quarterbacks -- Will Grier and Treon Harris -- following the recent decision of Skyler Mornhinweg to transfer to Columbia. The Gators have endured four quarterback departures since 2013, with Mornhinweg joining Jacoby Brissett (N.C. State), Tyler Murphy (Boston College) and Jeff Driskel (Louisiana Tech).

While McElwain expressed some excitement, Georgia coach Mark Richt didn't tip his hand on whether Golson visited or whether he would be interested in adding to the competition that already includes Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Jacob Park.

"I try to keep any prospects in the same vein where I don't make public comments," Richt said. "I think we've got guys who are capable of getting the job done, and we have three on scholarship. I would always feel better with four or five on scholarship just as a normal practice, but we're sitting here with three and hope that everybody stays healthy."

Golson and Richt did begin following each other on Twitter later Wednesday.

Richt has had quarterbacks leave with eligibility remaining -- Blake Barnes, Logan Gray and Christian LeMay for example -- but he does not expect another defection soon.

"I think they're all right in the middle of this race," Richt said, "and I don't think anybody would walk away from the opportunity that they have at Georgia right now. We know that guys transfer at all positions, but I certainly wouldn't be transferring when I've got the opportunity to be the guy."

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier nixed the linking of Golson and the Gamecocks, telling The State newspaper, "We are not pursuing him. We are not really in that."

The favorite to land Golson appeared earlier this week to be Florida State, with Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher telling ESPN on Tuesday, "We're negotiating. He's a great young man."

Golson's services have become the first big tug-of-war involving SEC schools since Russell Wilson left N.C. State as a graduate student after the 2010 season and picked Wisconsin over Auburn. Jacob Coker left FSU for Alabama last year, and Stephen Rivers left LSU for Vanderbilt, with Rivers announcing in January he was leaving Nashville.

SEC bylaw 14.1.15.1 states that a graduate student with remaining eligibility can play in the SEC as long as "the student-athlete has not been subject to official university or athletic department disciplinary action at any time during enrollment at any previous collegiate institution." Due to Golson's academic suspension in 2013, he would need league commissioner Mike Slive to amend the rule or make an exception.

The SEC has a tougher transfer rule for graduating student-athletes than other major conferences.

"I'm not sure if it's a big disadvantage, but obviously as coaches, I think we all wish we had the same rules as all the other conferences," Spurrier said. "Another topic are those satellite camps and all those teams that are coming into the South. The SEC can't have those camps, and I just wish we all had the same rules."

Tibbs leaving

Redshirt junior flanker Blake Tibbs is transferring from Georgia. The 6-2, 180-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Lithonia had four catches for 43 yards the past two seasons, including two for 25 last year.

"Blake and I have met, and he has decided it would be in his best interest to transfer to another institution," Richt said in a release. "I certainly understand and wish him nothing but the best."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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