Former Notre Dame QB Everett Golson fights for Colts roster spot – Indianapolis Star
During the Indianapolis Colts’ rookie minicamp this weekend, there are long shots, and then there is Everett Golson.
He was not drafted. He was not offered a rookie free agent deal. He does not have a contract.
He’s being compensated during this three-day affair in the form of meals, a hotel room, transportation – and one enormous opportunity.
Such is life right now for this one-time Notre Dame star, a guy who quarterbacked the Irish to a berth in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game and ranked among the top players in college football as recently as early 2014.
But it’s OK. Golson is used to this sort of thing. His career in recent years has consisted of a series of setbacks, improbable comebacks and everything in between. It’s still unclear whether what he’s currently experiencing will be a triumph or his latest disappointment.
But know this about Golson: His experiences have steeled him and he remains, per usual, unfazed.
“I think the true character of a man is not tested when things are going good,” Golson said, speaking from a Colts’ locker room he hopes to make his permanent home. “It’s when you face adversity. I’ve had my share of it. I’ve been up and then back down and then up for a little bit and back down again. It’s been a journey for me. But I have a good support system and my faith in God. I think that takes me (through).”
Tryout prospects occasionally are offered contracts by NFL teams. But it’s a tough road to navigate. Teams are invested in their draft picks and have scoured remaining players for those worthy of being offered college free agent deals. The 22 players working out this weekend on a tryout basis – absent an amazing first impression – most likely will get a nice pat on the back and be sent on their way.
Then again, how many of the other tryout players have a resume´ like Golson’s? How many have been a cornerstone on one of the best teams in the country? The answer is none.
But the problem with Golson is multi-faceted. He’s not been the player he once was for quite some time.
His strong 2012 redshirt freshman season was followed by a season on the sidelines when he missed 2013 after an academic violation. And even during Golson’s best season, in 2014, he couldn’t carry the performance through for its duration. He faded late after a hot start in which he threw 19 touchdowns in his first seven games. He gave way to Malik Zaire in that season’s bowl game, eventually transferring the next year to Florida State as a graduate transfer. At FSU, things played out in similar fashion. A hot start, this time interrupted by injury, followed by the loss of his starting job.
As it turns out, there’s a surprising amount of carryover from the past two years to this weekend’s camp.
“Going from starting to being benched, you have to kind of assume that role and I’ve never been in that position,” Golson said. “It was new for me. There was a lot of getting adjusted. I think I just had to grow up and mature as a man.”
Also working against Golson is his size. He’s generously listed at 6-feet tall, but that’s literally a stretch. He’s a bit on the slight side, too, weighing in at 199 pounds. Finally, there’s the numbers game. The Colts are expected to carry just two quarterbacks on their active roster – Andrew Luck and backup Scott Tolzien. They’ll likely take at least three quarterbacks to training camp. The third quarterback currently on the active roster is 2015 undrafted free agent Stephen Morris, formerly of the University of Miami.
It’s not out of the question the Colts will add a fourth, but it’s certainly isn’t likely, either.
On this front, coach Chuck Pagano had some advice for his young prospects that seemed particularly applicable in Golson’s case.
“Keep your head down,” he said. “… Don’t look around. Don’t count numbers. Don’t compare. Don’t complain. Just be a sponge.”
Working in Golson’s favor is his football acumen. He said he was fortunate to learn vastly different offensive styles under Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly and Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher. This is important seeing how Pagano emphasized this weekend is as much about the players’ ability to digest what they’re taught as their actual playing ability.
“A lot of people talk about me leaving Notre Dame, but I was fortunate to be in both offenses,” Golson said. “I’ve seen both styles and philosophies. Jimbo was more of a pro-style guy and Coach Kelly was more let’s get at ‘em, kind of spread it out. Seeing that, I think, has helped my knowledge of the game grow.”
That’s not to say the task has been easy. But with Golson, it seems like things never are.
“A lot of stuff is being thrown at you,” Golson said. “The playbook is pretty difficult, to be honest. But, all in all, it’s a blessing to be here and have an opportunity. That’s all you can really ask for.”
Follow IndyStar Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.
