The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will welcome back Everett Golson for the upcoming football season.  With a year out of the game,  what can we expect from the redshirt junior?

You may remember Golson from 2012 when he led the Irish to a BCS National Championship appearance against the mighty Alabama.  That year,  as a freshman,  he beat out 2013 starter Tommy Rees for the starting job and totalled 2,405 passing yards,  298 rushing yards,  18 total touchdowns and six interceptions and became famous for throwing the football without gripping the laces.  Unfortunately,  the season ended abruptly when the Crimson Tide steam rolled Notre Dame in front of the nation.

However,  a promising young career turned sour when,  in May 2013,  Golson was suspended from Notre Dame for an academic violation.  After he was readmitted to the school last December,  the 6’1” signal caller admitted to cheating on an exam.

Head Coach Brian Kelly is desperate to run the spread properly with Notre Dame and he will be able to do just that with Golson.  The young quarterback showed he was a playmaker as a freshman and getting back into a similar,  if not better,  offense will do wonders for his game.

Nevertheless,  learning the playbook again will be a hindrance.  Yes he has been in the same system before but it is often the sophomore year when quarterbacks make the jump and coaches open up the game as the trust and bond from sideline to pitch grows.  Missing a chunk of time means Golson is a year behind and it may not be until his senior season when we see him at his most comfortable.

The raw tools and moxie are there for all to see.  After all,  it is not every year a freshman signal caller goes to the big game in Pasadena. 

There will be trials and tribulations,  points to prove and questions marks to answer.  But all in all it should make for one exciting rollercoaster we will all ride with much anticipation.

Follow Richard on Twitter @Richard_Gatenby