Report: Malik Zaire To Transfer

Multiple outlets have reported and BlueandGold.com has confirmed from a Notre Dame source that Malik Zaire will not be back with the Notre Dame football team in 2017. The senior quarterback, who posted a cryptic message on Instagram shortly after the season finale loss at USC about his football future, intends to pursue a graduate transfer waiver and play for another school.

Zaire is expected to graduate this December (he was an early entrant in January 2013) and will have one season of eligibility remaining. He was one of 10 players eligible for a fifth season of eligibility at Notre Dame, and is the second who will not use his fifth year option with the Irish. Earlier, offensive lineman John Montelus stated on Twitter that he will not return in 2017.

The 6-0, 225-pound left-hander Zaire started three games in his Notre Dame career, most notably in a 31-28 victory over LSU in the Music City Bowl in 2014.

He began the 2015 season as the starter and completed 19 of 22 passes for 313 yards with three touchdowns in 38-3 win over Texas. A week later, he fractured his right ankle in the second half of Notre Dame’s win over Virginia.

DeShone Kizer took over from there and never looked back. Though the two entered the 2016 season in a quarterback battle, Kizer started the opener at Texas and seized control of the job in the second half.

Zaire saw time in the second half against Stanford, but otherwise played just spot duty when Kizer was forced from the game or in blowouts. He finished this season 11-of-23 passing for 122 yards with one touchdown and had 20 rushing attempts for 34 yards.

Zaire finished his Irish career with 816 passing yards and six touchdowns, and 324 rushing yards and two scores.

With Kizer possibly heading to the NFL Draft — forgoing his final two years of eligibility — Notre Dame’s top option at quarterback next season could be junior Brandon Wimbush.