Good Bye Golson

Well we were on answers to Question #11 in our series 20 Questions for Notre Dame Football in 2015 however the announcement from Everett Golson has preempted that article.



Everett Golson

I can't say it is a total shock that Golson has decided to take his 5th year of eligibility elsewhere, however once we got past the Blue Gold Game I thought the chanced of him leaving went down substantially.   Golson must have seen or heard something throughout spring practice and or the scrimmage to make him think that he was not the solid number one signal caller in South Bend.

Malik Zaire

This had made things a bit easier in regards to naming a starting quarterback for the Irish however the new concern is who will serve as a competent back up under center.  Before even if Golson started the season he had Zaire motivating him to keep his game up and if he faulted most people felt good about Malik stepping in.  If the Blue Gold taught us anything redshirt freshman quarterback DeShone Kizer will serve as a good placeholder but that is it and  even though walk-on Montgomery VanGorder looked fair I do not want to bank on him to lead us to any victories this season if needed.  Incoming freshman Brandon Wimbush may have to show his skills at least in practice sooner than later to make Irish coaches and fans alike sleep better at night.

In the end Malik Zaire will get what he wanted; a real chance to show that he can lead this team.

Question #10

On January 16th UND.com posted an article "20 Questions for Notre Dame Football for 2015".  This is question 10.

10. Notre Dame played cleanly early in 2014, then suffered from all kinds of turnover woes late in the year. The Irish only won the turnover battle four times all year (they were plus-eight in that category after the first three games) and not once from the Sept. 13 Purdue game until a turnover-free effort in the Music City Bowl against LSU. Can the Irish return to their mistake-free form in 2015?

Answer;

With Everett Golson having numerous fumbles and 14 interceptions in 2014 he will be the key to this answer.  Golson's interceptions increased as the season went on; September 2, October 4 and December 8.  It is kind of interesting if not ironic that the word "return" is used in the question as the previous seasons quarterback Tommy Rees was given the nickname "Tommy Turnover".

If Notre Dame cannot improve on their turnover issues (image if it actually go worse) any hopes of a successful season will not be likely. 

Notre Dame Draft Wrap Up

It looked like the Irish might get blanked in the 2015 NFL Draft but Ben Koyack ensured that would not happen.  Although Koyack may have the only Irish drafted several former Notre Dame made NFL connections after the draft.

Ben Koyack was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 12th pick in the 7th round (229th overall) making him the 486th Notre Dame player ever drafted.  Koyack becomes the 6th straight Notre Dame starting tight end and 28th overall to be drafted into the NFL.  His selection extends the Irish's streak of 78 straight years (longest ever) with at least one player with a NFL draft pick (including supplemental draft)

Cody Riggs signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent.

Kyle Brindza signs as a free agent  with the Detroit Lions.

DaVaris Daniels joins the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent.

Cam McDaniel has been offered minicamp opportunities be several teams.

Former Notre Dame Quarterback  Andrew Hendrix has signed  as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders.

Notre Dame has 19 of 22 starters returning in 2015 and just 1 of the 3 seniors got drafted.