Notre Dame’s Next Quarterback: Malik Zaire
By Andrew Hall
Apr. 21, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Everett Golson (1) , quarterback Tommy Rees (11) and quarterback Gunner Kiel (5) warm up before the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Kiel and Golson traded numbers for the game so Kiel could wear number five in honor of his uncle and former quarterback Blair Kiel who died April 8, 2012. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE
Everett Golson may be Notre Dame’s starting Quarterback right now but Malik Zaire will have something to say about it when he enrolls in January.
“I’m ready to dive in and compete,” said the 6’0” 196 lbs Quarterback from Archbishop Alter in an interview with Slap the Sign. Zaire committed to Coach Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 25th of this year despite a logjam at the Quarterback position that includes Golson, Rees, Hendrix and Kiel.
Zaire has all the tools to compete with the Quarterbacks on Notre Dame’s roster. This season, Zaire broke the school record for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Despite losing unexpectedly in the first round of the playoffs, 42-32 to Shawnee, Zaire still fulfilled his personal goals.
“It’s always a little upsetting when you don’t reach certain goals or expectations the team sets at the beginning of the season but I did find positive out of it including breaking the passing TD and yards record in a single season and had a few game winning drives…” Zaire said of his Senior season at Alter High School.
Slap the Sign saw Zaire lead one of those game winning drives in person. Watching him in that situation, it was clear that Zaire is the type of player that wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game. During that game winning drive, he hurdled a Fairmont defender and threw a perfect ball to the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
Check out the video and review of Malik Zaire here.
Zaire was one of the top finishers at the Elite 11 Quarterback camp in California this summer. He is also up for Mr. Football in the State of Ohio. Zaire is ranked as the 4th best dual threat signal caller according to Rivals.com. Zaire is the prototypical Quarterback for Brian Kelly’s Offense. He is very adept at running and throwing the football. Zaire adds a lot to the Quarterback stable for the #1 team in the country.
Although Notre Dame fans not expecting the Irish to be holding that #1 ranking in the BCS Standings, Zaire believed that it was a possibility for this season.
“The faith I had in our coaching staff and in the captains this year to rally the guys to believe in a national championship,” Zaire said.
In the next four years, Zaire will hopefully compete for National Championships at Notre Dame as well. Ultimately, the Quarterback situation will bring clarity to itself through graduation and possibly transfers. More than likely when Zaire heads into his second year at Notre Dame, he will be one of three Quarterbacks.
One thing is certain right now. The Quarterbacks better continue to improve or Notre Dame fans will be seeing Malik Zaire on the field sooner than later. We can expect to see Zaire in Blue and Gold on April 20, 2013 for the 84th annual Blue-Gold game from Notre Dame Stadium.