Everett Golson has made his decision. He will continue his career with Florida State.
The former Fighting Irish quarterback sparked a firestorm of interest and speculation when he announced on May 7 that he was transferring from Notre Dame. After visits to Florida State and a number of SEC schools, multiple reports last week indicated Golson was likely to pick the Seminoles as his graduate transfer destination, with an announcement potentially coming Monday.
Monday came and went without an announcement, but Golson told Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports on Tuesday that he will indeed move to Tallahassee and be immediately eligible to play for Jimbo Fisher's Seminoles.
"This past weekend has been a defining moment in my life as I am proud to say I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame," Golson told Fox Sports when announcing his decision. "The support I've received there over the past four years has helped strengthen my integrity, wisdom and character. I would like to thank all of the coaches who spent time speaking with me these past few weeks and considered adding me to their football programs. Their interest and sincerity was truly humbling.
"After much thought and careful consideration, I will utilize my fifth year of eligibility to join the Florida State University Seminoles. To coach Jimbo Fisher, the Florida State football team, staff, alumni and fans, thank you for allowing me to become part of the Seminoles family. I can't wait to get started."
The school announced at 4:36 p.m. that his paperwork was received.
Fisher said after Golson's visit that he had begun "negotiating" to bring the Irish's 2013 BCS Championship Game starter into the fold.
Golson has a chance to replace Jameis Winston, who left FSU after two seasons -- the first a Heisman Trophy- and national championship-winning campaign -- to become the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.
Fisher said in April that redshirt junior Sean Maguire could be announced as the team's No. 1 quarterback before fall camp, but did not rule out an incoming transfer -- and Maguire's up-and-down spring game did little to quiet rumors the Seminoles would be looking for another candidate outside the roster.
After his transferannouncement, Golson had been linked to several SEC schools including South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida -- the last two of which he actually visited. But any mutual interest between those parties appears to have been cooled by an SEC regulation that would have required Golson -- who spent the entire 2013 season on academic suspension -- to receive a waiver from the league office before becoming eligible this fall.
Golson threw for 5,850 yards and 41 touchdowns in 25 career games with the Irish, helping lead the team to a surprising undefeated regular season and BCS Championship Game berth in 2012. But a turnover-fueled slump late in the 2014 season led to his coming off the bench behind Malik Zaire in the Fighting Irish's Music City Bowl upset of LSU.
