Malik Zaire
Florida Gators – No. 9 | |
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Position | Quarterback |
Class | Senior |
Major | Film, Television & Theatre |
Personal information | |
Born: | Kettering, Ohio | February 28, 1995
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
Career history | |
College |
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Bowl games |
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High school | Kettering (OH) Archbishop Alter |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Malik Jamaal Zaire (born February 28, 1995) was an American football quarterback for the Florida Gators.
Early years
Zaire attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. As a senior, he earned 2012 AP Ohio Division III Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year accolades with 1,990 yards passing, 1,120 yards on the ground and 33 total touchdowns (24 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns).[1]
He was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the third best Dual-threat quarterback in his class.[2] Zaire committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football.[3]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Malik Zaire Dual-Threat QB |
Kettering, OH | Archbishop Alter HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | Mar 25, 2012 | |
Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 14 (QB), 1 (OH), 3 (regional), 172 (national) Rivals: 3 (QB), 122 (national) ESPN: 6 (QB), 189 (national) | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
Freshman
Zaire did not play in any games as a freshman at Notre Dame in 2013.
Sophomore
Prior to his sophomore season in 2014, he competed with Everett Golson to be the starting quarterback.[4][5] Golson won the job with Zaire as the backup.[6][7] He received his first extensive playing time against the USC Trojans, replacing Golson who was benched. He completed 9 of 20 passes for 170 yards and a rushing touchdown in the game.[8] After spending the entire season as Golson's backup, Zaire started the 2014 Music City Bowl.[9][10] He completed 12 of 15 passes for 96 yards with one touchdown, and ran for 96 yards on 22 carries scoring one touchdown leading Notre Dame to a 31–28 victory over LSU and earning the game's MVP.[11]
Junior
The Fighting Irish opened spring practice with an open competition at quarterback, but neither Zaire or Everett Golson separated themselves as the starter according to head coach Brian Kelly.[12] However, after Golson decided to transfer and play his final season at Florida State University, Zaire was named the starting quarterback.[13] In the second game of the season, against Virginia, Zaire fractured his ankle after a run. It was announced after the game that he would miss the rest of the season.[14][15]
Senior
Zaire battled DeShone Kizer before the season for the starting quarterback position. Both shared snaps in the team's first game, a loss to Texas. Statistically Kizer had a far better game than Zaire, earning Kizer the starting quarterback position. Zaire played little during the remainder of the season and announced that he will transfer to another school to play his 5th year in 2017.
References
- ^ "TriStateFootball.com". TriStateFootball.com.
- ^ "Malik Zaire". yahoo.com.
- ^ "Quarterback Malik Zaire commits to the Irish". Inside the Irish.
- ^ "Malik Zaire serves notice of QB race at Notre Dame football spring game". Asbury Park Press. April 12, 2014.
- ^ "Everett Golson wil have to compete for Notre Dame job". tribunedigital-mcall.
- ^ Notre Dame gets the 'right answer' from Malik Zaire
- ^ "Notebook: Malik Zaire trying to find his edge as Notre Dame's No. 2 QB". Notre Dame Insider.
- ^ "Notre Dame: Malik Zaire, Greg Bryant bright spots at USC". CSN Chicago.
- ^ "Notre Dame Fighting Irish to start Malik Zaire". ESPN.com.
- ^ Chicago Tribune (December 29, 2014). "Malik Zaire to start at QB for Notre Dame against LSU". chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "Malik Zaire leads Notre Dame to Music City Bowl win over LSU". Yahoo Sports. December 30, 2014.
- ^ Chicago Tribune (April 8, 2015). "Brian Kelly in no rush to anoint Notre Dame starting QB". chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "Notre Dame has 'supreme confidence' in starting Malik Zaire". CSN Chicago.
- ^ "Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire gone for the season". Irish247.
- ^ "Notre Dame Fighting Irish QB Malik Zaire leaves game against Virginia Cavaliers with apparent right ankle injury". ESPN.com.