Everett Golson to Alabama Crimson Tide: Could It Really Happen?

In the past few weeks, the Braxton Miller-to-Alabama rumors have started to die down, at least for the moment, as Miller has yet to announce any intent to transfer from the Ohio State Buckeyes. But a college football offseason without constant rumors would be no fun. So as the Miller speculation has dwindled, the rumors of former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson going to Alabama have begun to spring up. 

After leading Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship game in 2012, Golson was suspended from the Irish program for the 2013 season for academic reasons. After returning to his starting position in the 2014 season, Golson appeared to be having a strong comeback campaign before faltering down the stretch and ultimately surrendering the starting job to sophomore Malik Zaire. 

As a graduate transfer, Golson will be eligible to play immediately wherever he chooses to resume his college career. ESPN's Brett McMurphy has reported that Alabama was one of 10 schools that Golson gave to Notre Dame's compliance department as potential transfer options. In the same report, McMurphy stated that Alabama would accept Golson as a graduate transfer if he were to make the decision to play for the Crimson Tide.

The possibility of Golson playing in Tuscaloosa has Alabama fans intrigued after a spring that featured inconsistent play from all five of Alabama's current quarterbacks, including senior and former Florida State transfer Jacob Coker. Even a month after spring practice, head coach Nick Saban recently confirmed that no clear starter has emerged for the 2015 Crimson Tide thus far.

The prospect of walking into a fairly open quarterback situation would have to be attractive for Golson.  Of course, wherever Golson transfers, he will have only the summer and early fall to learn a new offense and lock down a starting job. If there is one thing that Alabama fans learned from the 2014 season, it's that a high-profile transfer isn't guaranteed anything. 

Golson would seemingly be a strong fit in offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin's scheme at Alabama. After the incredible progress that former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims showed in one season under Kiffin, a player with the physical similarities to Sims that Golson possesses could help the Alabama offense transition smoothly into this season.

Unlike Sims, who had never started a college football game a year ago, Golson already has two full seasons as a starter in a Power Five program. Of course, one glaring difference is that whoever leads this year's Tide offense will have to do so without the services of consensus All-American Amari Cooper. However, this year's Crimson Tide will still feature a corps of talented young wide receivers. 

An obstacle that could prevent Golson from finding his way to Alabama is the SEC's rather strict transfer policy. Among the criteria for SEC transfers are at least two years of remaining eligibility and a clean disciplinary record from the the previous school. Golson has neither of those things and would require a transfer waiver to be able to play at Alabama or any other SEC program. 

At this point, it appears unlikely that Golson lands in Tuscaloosa, and not only because he might still have nightmares of Alabama from the pummeling he took in 2012. 247 Sports' Ryan Bartow has reported that among his potential suitors the Florida State Seminoles are the current leaders for Golson's services.  

The opportunity to succeed Jameis Winston and the SEC's strict transfer conditions may ultimately be too much for Alabama to overcome if they want to land Golson. But that won't stop fans' imaginations from running wild until a final decision is made.