Fisher: Ex-Irish QB Golson, Florida State 'Negotiating'
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AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Everett Golson has met with Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher about the possibility of the former Notre Dame quarterback transferring to the Seminoles.
Fisher said Tuesday at the Atlantic Coast Conference spring meetings that Golson visited Florida State's Tallahassee campus on Monday.
"We're negotiating," Fisher said about Golson. "He's a great young man. I really enjoyed getting to know him. Good player. Played really good against us."
Golson is apparently on Florida tour this week.
SI.com reported Golson was in Gainesville, Florida, on Tuesday meeting with Gators coach Jim McElwain.
Florida State is looking for a replacement for Jameis Winston, who was the first overall pick in the NFL draft last month.
Sean Maguire, who started one game last season as Winston's backup, left spring practice as the Seminoles top quarterback. Maguire is by far the most experienced quarterback on Florida State's roster, but is not nearly as accomplished as Golson.
Fisher said he would not promise playing time to any player and that it was up to Golson if he wanted to join the Seminoles.
"It's an open competition and I communicate with everybody," Fisher said of Florida State's quarterback situation. "We've got to do what gives us the best chance to be successful."
Golson is transferring as a graduate student, which means he is eligible to play immediately.
He helped Notre Dame to a perfect regular season and BCS championship game appearance against Alabama in 2012 as a redshirt freshman. Golson was suspended from school for an academic violation in 2013, but returned to Notre Dame last season and threw for 3,445 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also had 22 turnovers and shared the quarterback job with Malik Zaire in Notre Dame's 31-28 victory against LSU in the Music City Bowl.
Golson and Zaire competed in spring practice at Notre Dame, but neither was publicly declared the winner by coach Brian Kelly. Golson announced last week he would transfer.
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said Golson has identified a group of school he is interested in attending. The AD did not name the schools, but said the Fighting Irish will not stand in the way of him transferring to any of those schools.
Golson, a South Carolina native, would seem to be a natural fit at several Southeastern Conference schools in need of a quarterback.
Florida also left spring practice without a clear starter at quarterback. The leading candidates are sophomore Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier.
If Golson decides an SEC school is the place for him, the move would likely require league approval.
The SEC has a rule prohibiting schools from accepting transfers with less than two years of eligibility who have had significant disciplinary issues at their previous school. An SEC school could request a waiver from the league commissioner to allow Golson to play.
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