Notre Dame Football: Quarterback Competition Will Determine Brian Kelly's Future

Brian Kelly's first two seasons at Notre Dame have been a disappointment. The Irish have gone 16-10 and have yet to reach a BCS game, despite high expectations. Entering the 2012 season, Kelly has not yet picked a starting quarterback, and his eventual choice at the position could determine how much longer he has a job in South Bend.

Much has been expected of Kelly's first two teams, as he inherited a lot of talent from his predecessor Charlie Weis. The problem is that that talent has yet to develop, and there wasn't much of an improvement between his first and second seasons. In addition to that, his patented sideline tirades haven't exactly gone over well nationally, and they have often been mocked. 

After returning starting quarterback Tommy Rees was arrested following a confrontation with police at a party in South Bend, it may have reduced the quarterback competition to three players. Freshman Gunner Kiel, sophomore Everett Golson and junior Andrew Hendrix will all likely have the chance to win the job when the team reconvenes for fall camp, and Rees will remain a wild card until his legal woes are resolved. 

Honestly, I'm not sure who will end up winning the job. Kiel is a pocket passer who comes in as a highly-touted 5-star prospect. But I scouted and covered him when he played for Columbus East High School, and I believe he's a long way from being a starting quarterback on a top-25 college football team. Meanwhile, Golson and Hendrix are both dual-threat quarterbacks who will add running ability to the offense that Kiel can't. 

No matter who Kelly picks as his starter under center, he better hope they can perform right away, or it could be another long season in South Bend. 

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