Next stop still uncertain for Malik Zaire after leaving Notre Dame

The story of former Alter quarterback Malik Zaire took another turn this week with a report the Notre Dame graduate transfer will not choose a new college in time for this coming academic period.

Zaire's father, Imani, told Scout.com the lefty signal-caller will work out in Arizona this winter and choose a school later in the year.

While that seems like a curious decision because it means he won’t have spring practice to learn a new offense and get to know new teammates, it could come down to a matter of opening up more options for a former four-star prospect who might have only one year left to be a starting quarterback at the college level and position himself for a shot at the pros.

There may not be a clear path to playing time at either of his two reported top choices — Wisconsin and North Carolina — and SEC rules are complicating a potential move to Florida, where quarterback has been a problematic position for several seasons but the defense has been championship level.

Zaire has one year of eligibility remaining, but because he missed nearly all of the 2015 season with an ankle injury, he may be able to gain another season of eligibility through an appeal to the NCAA.

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