Notre Dame QB announces he is leaving the Irish

Everett Golson released a statement Thursday afternoon announcing that he will be leaving Notre Dame to play his final college football season elsewhere.

Golson released a prepared statement that ESPN's Brett McMurphy shared online. 

The statement reads:

After much thought, prayer, and discussion with my family, I have decided that it is in my best interest to graduate from Notre Dame and transfer to another school effective immediately.

I would like to thank everyone at Notre Dame for the opportunity to compete at the highest level of college football but most importantly to obtain my degree from one of the finest universities in the country. To all the Fighting Irish fans I want to thank you for your support over the past four years and let you know I truly love Notre Dame! To my former teammates, who I will miss tremendously, I wish much success in the future and will be your biggest fan from afar.

I will have no further comment at this time and ask that you respect my time as I figure out this life changing moment. God has a plan for each of us and I ask for your prayers as I move forward in this new journey in my life.

Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly released a statement concerning Golson's departure:

I'd like to thank Everett Golson for all he did as a member of our football program. He had many significant achievements, including helping us to an undefeated regular season and berth into the national title game. But his most important accomplishment is completing his course work toward a degree from the University of Notre Dame. I wish him all the best moving forward.

We, of course, have approached our preparations for the upcoming season with this possibility in mind. The emergence of Malik Zaire, based on his performance in the Music City Bowl win over LSU, and throughout spring practice, has given our staff supreme confidence that he can lead our team to great success in 2015.