Young QBs could see first action Saturday

Brian Kelly told listeners to his weekly radio show that backup quarterbacks Everett Golson and/or Andrew Hendrix may make their first appearance when Air Force visits Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday. “I’m not going to tell you who,” Kelly said. “You have to come to the game on Saturday and see for yourself.”Although Tommy Rees is entrenched as the starter, Kelly has spoken frequently about getting his two young signal callers some experience this season. If it were to happen, Hendrix, a sophomore, and Golson, a freshman, would play in a special package that would accentuate their skills.“For Everett, it has been everything,” Kelly said when asked about Golson’s transition to the college game. “It has been going to class, acclimating to Notre Dame academics, the rigors of being a quarterback here at Notre Dame. That’s been as big for Everett as anything.”“Andrew’s major is pre-med. He’s done great from that standpoint. His learning curve has been the football end of things with our system and our offense. “Both of them had different things they’ve had to work on and it will be one of those things in the spring where it will be about one of those kids getting in there and impressing. Kelly said there’s a direct correlation between academic success and on-field success, especially with younger players.“If they are feeling good about their academics they are coming to practice in an upbeat manner,” he said. “If they are struggling and things aren’t going well you can tell there’s a carry over. In recruiting, we can’t take kids we feel wouldn’t be able to keep their heads above water. They would come to practice and we wouldn’t get anything out of them.