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Malik Zaire will blossom into superstar as Notre Dame’s starting QB

By Patrick Schmidt

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Everett Golson’s decision to transfer from Notre Dame means Malik Zaire is the Fighting Irish starting quarterback this year, but is he ready for the job?

Notre Dame’s two-man quarterback competition is down to one after Everett Golson decided he will play his final year of college football elsewhere and that leaves Malik Zaire as the Fighting Irish quarterback this season.

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Zaire appeared in seven games last year, including starting in the Music City Bowl against LSU, when he competed 12-of-15 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and ran 22 times for 96 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Most important aspect of his state line was that he didn’t turn the ball over and that’s exactly what Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly wanted to see from the redshirt freshman after seeing Golson turn the ball over 22 times in the last 10 games of the season.

Even if Golson didn’t transfer and he beat out Zaire for the starting job it is very likely that Zaire would have played in certain situations and Golson would have been on a short leash considering his penchant for the turnover.

Zaire lacks the in-game experience of Golson who threw 41 touchdown passes, 20 interceptions and passed for 5,850 yards in his Notre Dame career and ran for 14 scores and 581 yards in his career, but he has the same dual-threat ability and upside that Golson showed when he was a redshirt freshman.

If anything, Zaire can be every bit as productive as Golson with his arm and his feet but without the mind-numbing turnovers that cost Notre Dame games. It was only two years ago that the 6-0, 210-pound Zaire was the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings so he brings considerable potential and upside to the team.

And it’s not a complete shock that Golson left the program and Kelly and his coaching staff have prepared for a situation like the one that just transpired.

Zaire will be mentally prepared for the incredible opportunity that awaits him as the starting quarterback for one of the most prestigious programs of all-time and physically he’s got all the tools to be successful in this offense.

I believe the Notre Dame defense will benefit from having Zaire under center too because they won’t be put in short fields after a Golson fumble or interception, so starting Zaire has a natural impact on the offense and the defense, so the loss of Golson has the Irish in potential to win more in 2015 and beyond with Zaire leading the team.

DeShone Kizer will serve as his backup and true freshman Brandon Wimbush will likely take a redshirt, but despite the loss of Golson, Notre Dame’s depth chart at quarterback is strong for the present and the future.

Next: Top 8 Teams where Everett Golson should Transfer

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