Written by Richard Johnson at SBNation.com
The Notre Dame career of QB Malik Zaire may have come to an end. According to Irish Illustrated, Zaire will ask for a release from his scholarship in a Wednesday meeting with coach Brian Kelly. He would be eligible to play immediately due to NCAA rules allowing graduate transfers to not have to sit out a year (provided their major program at the new school isn’t offered at the old school).
The poor 2016 season in South Bend may help Zaire get a running start on the transfer process, as the 4-8 Fighting Irish will not be headed to a bowl game.
Irish Illustrated has learned that Florida, Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Wisconsin are the primary contenders for Zaire. With Notre Dame’s season complete, Zaire won’t have the conflict of bowl practices to prevent visits to other programs during the coming weeks.
It’s still very early in the process for Zaire at this point (he hasn’t even officially transferred of course). All four of the teams listed are different levels of deficient at QB, but would he be a fit in these offenses? Zaire’s game is best suited to being used like a Jalen Hurts-style running back who happens to be able to toss the deep ball.
Florida has been grasping at straws at the QB position since Tim Tebow left at the end of the 2009 season. They will carry three quarterbacks into the 2017 season currently on the roster, including this year’s initial starter Luke Del Rio. As well as any QBs UF can grab on the recruiting trail.
At Michigan State, Zaire would likely compete with junior Damion Terry for a starting role in the spring. Terry played in Michigan State’s season finale, and although he went out with an injury he showed flashes of competent play against Penn State. Zaire would likely run into a similar competition for the starting job at Wisconsin. Alex Hornibrook will return for the Badgers and has guided the team to a Big Ten West title. But he hasn’t exactly lit up box scores along the way. There’s also the fact that there may not be enough room for Zaire on the roster.
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