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QB Everett Golson looking for a 'fresh start' with Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 18: Everett Golson #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish drops back to pass against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 18: Everett Golson #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish drops back to pass against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson said the need for a “fresh start” was the reason he decided to leave Notre Dame and transfer to Florida State.

Golson announced his transfer decision last week, but did an interview with Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman on Thursday to explain his decision.

"It's something that's pretty crazy right now for me to adjust to, but I do think it was best for me," Golson said. "I just needed a fresh start. It was me sitting down and thinking, 'OK, where do I feel the most comfortable?' It was nothing to knock Notre Dame. I just had to put myself in the best position possible.

"The good thing about me being in the position — I'm not an 18-year-old kid. I asked a bunch of questions. I'm 22 and could really get into where's the best place that you can succeed and help the team's success.”

Golson, who was still wearing Notre Dame gear, was in San Diego to work with renowned quarterback coach George Whitfield Jr. Golson had worked with Whitfield during the 2013 season, a season Golson had to sit out because of academic issues.

Golson just graduated from Notre Dame, making him eligible to compete this upcoming season. His work with Whitfield will help him get up to speed on the Florida State offense. Whitfield did work with former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, so he has some good insight into what Golson needs to do to win that starting job.

Golson told Fox Sports that he chose Florida State because of coach Jimbo Fisher and the things he felt he could do with the Seminoles.

"One of the things I was looking for in a coach was for him to be genuine," Golson said. "What he's built there at Florida State really sold itself before I started really looking. Actually sitting down and talking to him, I felt like he was gonna shoot me straight and he was a genuine guy. If you're not doing so well, he's gonna tell you, and if you are doing well, he's gonna tell you that, too. I can really respect a guy like that.

"For me, it all started with him being genuine and for me to be able to (play) free again. I think that's what I lost sight of last season. At the beginning of the season, I was playing free. I was having fun. Closer to the end of the season, it kinda came to feel like a burden."

Golson said he also considered Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Florida, but wasn’t sure he could get a waiver from the SEC that would allow him to transfer. He said he also looked at Texas, but wasn’t able to go there because it was one of the schools Notre Dame blocked because the two teams play in 2015. Notre Dame denied blocking any schools for Golson.

"I would've definitely entertained it, but just knowing that I couldn't, it kinda limited me," Golson said. "It was pretty awkward, but it was kind of expected. It would've been interesting to see Texas. They (Notre Dame) basically limited me to the schools that we wouldn't play. I wasn't really surprised by it."

Golson's playing time at Notre Dame probably would have been limited in his senior season. Redhsirt sophomore Malik Zaire replaced Golson in the Music City Bowl and went on to be the game’s MVP as he led the Irish to a win against LSU.

Golson was unable to regain the starting role during spring ball and subsequently decided to transfer.

He comes into Florida State with no promise to start, Golson said, but there’s definitely opportunity. Sean Maguire was the heir apparent to Winston, but looked shaky in his only start last season. He’s inexperienced and Golson might serve as a nice bridge before Maguire is fully ready to take over the team. However, Maguire might have something to say about that. He was far and away the starting quarterback coming out of the spring and will be ready to compete with Golson in the fall.

And if Golson can’t clean up the mistakes that plagued him at Notre Dame — he had 22 turnovers in 2014, including eight lost fumbles — he’s going to find himself looking at a lost final collegiate season.

"I'm surrounded by a great group of guys, from wide receivers to running backs, down there, as Notre Dame does, too. I got to learn how to maneuver around that,” Golson said. “Every play doesn't have to be a big play. Take chunk plays. Maybe the back turns a four-yard gain into a 10-yard gain. It's about playing within yourself and playing within the system."

For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!

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