Zaire is the college basketball version of the one-and-done recruit. He was granted a do-over by earning a bachelor’s degree in film/television (minor in peace studies) at Notre Dame last December. That makes him immediately eligible under the NCAA fifth-year transfer rule, which has a more high profile among basketball quick-fix teams.
The countdown for Zaire’s final college football team began soon after Notre Dame lost to USC in the regular-season finale last season. That was the third loss in ND’s last four games – beating only Army – and ended a bowl-less 4-8 season.
Notre Dame's 2013 national championship appearance – and 42-14 mauling by Alabama – likely banked head coach Brian Kelly this coming season, but it will be without Zaire. He announced his decision to leave and was granted his release by Notre Dame just three days after the USC game.
Zaire had hoped to enroll in a new school in January and participate in spring drills. Instead, he relocated to Chandler where his father lives and went full throttle with the Dennis Gile Quarterback Academy. Now his senior-season audible includes waiting until after spring practices and re-upping with a program that can use a one-season QB.
Wisconsin and North Carolina have been at the top of his wish list. Florida also has been mentioned, but only if the Southeastern Conference relaxes its fifth-year transfer rule.
“Since I’ve graduated early, I’ve had a chance to be kind of selfish and take this semester and get better as a player,” Zaire said. “I have the peace that I wanted. Now I can get into what I really wanted to do, too. It’s been working out pretty good for me.”
A gifted runner and adept passer, Zaire had the rare distinction of verbally committing to Notre Dame despite not ever having started a game at Alter prior to his senior season. He sat behind QB Everett Golson that national championship appearance season and was a sensation in his first ND start, earning MVP honors in the 2014 Music City Bowl, a 31-28 defeat of LSU at Nashville.
A broken leg ended his 2015 season in the second game and last season he couldn’t displace DeShone Kizer. Kelly always talked glowingly of Zaire, but Kizer was his choice as starter the last two seasons. Ironically, Kizer has since announced he’ll forego his final two years of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
Zaire completed 11 of 23 passes last season for 122 yards and one touchdown. He sat out four games and played sparingly in the rest.
“Regarding my football career, it’s about learning how to thrive in tough situations,” he said. “I believe in the special player I can be. If anything, it made me a stronger person. Not only physically but really mentally in dealing with some of the things that sometimes you can’t control, but when the opportunities do come, you’re prepared.”
Zaire still calls Dayton home, although his father lives in Chandler and his mother in Maryland. He still follows Alter football. “As long as they have (coach Ed) Domsitz, everything is going to be all right,” he said.
Zaire will be an NFL longshot come this time next year. A breakout final college season would help.
“The ultimate goal for me is to be able to reach that next level like any good quarterback’s dream should be,” he said. “You want to play at the highest level. That includes being the best in college. It’s all bottled up in one season, but that gives me more motivation to prepare and make it special.”
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MALIK ZAIRE
At Notre Dame
Combined stats: 58 completions, 98 attempts, 816 yards, 6 TD's, 0 INT's.
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