KETTERING — Quarterback Malik Zaire has more leverage than ever to lean on diehard wishbone Alter High School head coach Ed Domsitz: A verbal commitment to the University of Notre Dame.

“I’ll definitely get in his ear a little bit more this year about opening up the passing game,” said Zaire on Monday, laughing. “We’ll do whatever it takes to win the game.”

Zaire was one of four national recruits from the Class of 2013 to verbally commit to play football for the Irish on Sunday. He also is the fourth area standout junior to commit early.

The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder guided the Knights to a 10-0 regular season last fall as a junior, his first as a starter. Alter lost 35-27 to Thurgood Marshall in the first round of the Division III playoffs.

A versatile left-hander, Zaire ran for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns in directing Alter’s run-heavy offense. He also was 36 of 82 passing for 729 yards and another five TDs.

Ohio State, defending national champion Alabama, Nebraska and Pittsburgh were other programs that made offers to him.

Cincinnati was the first to offer him a scholarship, before he had ever started a game at QB for the Knights.

A lifelong Buckeyes fan, Zaire was won over by Irish coach Brian Kelly last weekend.

“I always pictured myself being a Buckeye,” Zaire said.

“At the end of the day it was one of those choices in which I had to make the decision that was best for me and I felt I could make the biggest impact in the college football world. Notre Dame was the one that fit me for everything that I do at Alter. It just translated to the next level.”

Notre Dame already has top incoming freshmen recruits Everett Golson and Gunner Kiel who will compete as the starters this fall. Many internet sites already have Zaire moving to receiver or redshirting his freshman year should he remain a quarterback.

“I would be surprised if Malik would commit to Notre Dame if they were talking to him as a receiver,” Domsitz said.

“There’s never been any question in Malik’s mind as to what he wants to play.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@coxohio.com.