SOUTH BEND – With the recent news of Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson no longer enrolled due to an academic violation, can fifth-year senior Tommy Rees step up?
Everett, who would help lead the Irish to it’s first BCS title game in throwing for 2,405 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions while also rushing for 298 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, would be suspended for “poor academic judgment”, per ESPN.
Only a sophomore, the 6’1 185-pounder can regain his eligibility and possibly return to the Irish in 2014.
As for now, the Irish depth chart consists of fourth-year junior Andrew Hendrix, early enrollee Malik Zaire and senior Tommy Rees.
Rees, who has 18 career starts for the Irish was suspended in 2012 for a misdemeanor in resisting arrest and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, started the last four games for Notre Dame in 2010 as a freshman after Dayne Crist went down with a torn patellar tendon.
For his career, the 6’2, 210-pound Rees has completed 403 passes out of 634 attempts for 4,483 yards in 33 games and 18 starts for 34 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
A bit of a slow runner and not as mobile as Golson, Rees is not the ideal fit for head coach Brian Kelly’s spread offense, but at this point, Notre Dame has little choice, unless Zaire or Hendrix step up.
While not the dual-threat that Golson is under center, Rees is more accurate with the ball than Golson, and with three years under his belt is more experienced in the huddle.
While the losses on offense of tight end Tyler Eifert, Theo Riddick, John Goodman, Robby Toma and Cierre Woods to the NFL will hurt along with Golson due to academics, Rees may be the steady and cool hand that guides the Irish to another BCS title run in 2013-14.
Robert D. Cobb is the Founder/CEO/Senior Editor-In-Chief Of The Inscriber : Digital Magazine, for questions, comments and concerns email me at robcobb@theinscriber.com follow me on Twitter @RC_TheInscriber and follow The Inscriber : Digital Magazine on Twitter at @TheInscriber