The curious college career of Everett Golson has ended.
The Florida State quarterback did not travel to the Peach Bowl due to a “personal issue,” Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher announced Saturday.
BREAKING: QB Everett Golson did not make trip to Atlanta for Peach Bowl. Career over at #FSU. Story to come.
— Tom D'Angelo (@tomdangelo44) December 26, 2015
ESPN’s Matt Fortuna reported Golson is dealing with a death in his family.
I'm told former #NotreDame QB Everett Golson is dealing with a death in the family. #FSU HC Jimbo Fisher said he didn't travel to Peach Bowl
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 26, 2015
Golson, who transferred from Notre Dame before this season, had quite the up-and-down career. In 2012, he led the Fighting Irish to the BCS National Championship Game and looked like a future star. However, in May of 2013, he was suspended from Notre Dame after cheating on a test, forcing him to miss the entire season. He returned in 2014 and put up solid numbers (3,445 yards, 29 passing touchdowns, eight rushing touchdowns), but the Irish collapsed toward the end of the year and wound up 8-5. Golson committed crucial turnovers in a loss at Arizona State, which initiated the Irish’s late-season slide.
After transferring to Florida State, Golson started the season’s first seven games before suffering a concussion and losing the starting job to Sean Maguire. Golson did not play in the Seminoles’ most recent game, a 27-2 win over Florida. He did not play in the team’s most important ACC game of the season, a loss at Clemson.
It’s tough to look at Golson’s career and not see unfulfilled potential. Between one bad decision and several tough breaks, the quarterback’s path to stardom was derailed again and again. Hopefully Golson does what he has to with his family and gets himself ready to prepare for a run at an NFL career.
No. 9 Florida State (10-2) faces No. 18 Houston (12-1) on Thursday in the Peach Bowl, the first New Year’s Six game of the 2015-2016 bowl season.
