SOUTH BEND – Everett Golson can see himself starting at quarterback for Notre Dame when the season kicks off against Navy on Sept. 1 in Dublin, Ireland.

“Honestly I had dreams about it, seeing visions of it – just me being out there, the crowd and everything,” Golson said. “I think that’s what motivates me to keep going, keep driving and learn as much as I can.”

Golson’s dream could become a reality soon.

The 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore appears to be locked in a battle for the starting job in the opener with 6-2, 220-pound junior Andrew Hendrix after Wednesday’s practice, which was open to the media.

Golson, who didn’t play last season, and Hendrix, who appeared in five games last year, took every significant snap during the first fall practice in pads. Freshman Gunner Kiel took a few snaps during live drills, and incumbent starter Tommy Rees, who is suspended for the season opener because of a May 3 arrest, was mostly a spectator.

“It’s 1A and 1B,” coach Brian Kelly said of where Golson and Hendrix are on the depth chart. “They have both made great progress. … They’ve both gotten over 100 reps of 11-on-11 football, and each day, it is a teaching moment for both of them.”

Golson performed well during live drills Wednesday, completing 18 of 34 passes. He was the victim of two dropped passes and did throw an interception as he focused on staying in the pocket and completing passes during drills.

Golson said he has increased his knowledge of the offense after spending the summer studying film and working on his technique.

“That was one of the biggest things for me, talking with coach Kelly, he said I have the art of it, but I need the science,” Golson said. “That was one of my biggest things, getting in the film room and getting my mechanics down.”

Hendrix completed 10 of 20 passes. He had three passes dropped and threw two interceptions.

Hendrix said he is focusing on his own improvement and is not worrying about how the race to become the Irish’s starter this year is going.

“I focus on what I can do and being the best me that I possibly can at the end of the day,” Hendrix said. “If that is not enough, then that’s not enough. That is coach Kelly’s decision. I just got to focus on being a better player.”

Golson and Hendrix have been getting equal time with the starting offense since Saturday, Kelly said. They have both shown progress, but neither has outright grabbed the starting spot, leaving the door open for Kelly to use both in the opener.

“I’ve played two quarterbacks before and had great success with that,” Kelly said. “I prefer one quarterback, but at least I’ve got some experience balancing two, if we would have to do that.”

tkrausz@jg.net