Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/109499
QB Malik Zaire 6-1½ ✦ 190 ✦ Archbishop Alter H.S. ✦ Kettering, Ohio Notable: Born on Feb. 28, 1995 … Listed with a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, 275-pound bench press, 34½-inch vertical jump and 4.25 in the shuttle. … Recruited by Alabama as an "athlete" … The last southpaw to play and throw a TD pass for Notre Dame was Art Parisien in 1926. Rankings: Rated as a four-star recruit, the No. 10 dual-threat quarterback in the nation and the No. 15 prospect in Ohio by 247Sports … Ranked as a four-star prospect, the No. 6 player in Ohio, the No. 3 dual quarterback in the country and the No. 122 overall recruit in the class of 2013 by Rivals.com … Identified as a four-star prospect, the No. 14 quarterback in the land and the No. 172 overall player nationally by Scout. com … A four-star prospect, the No. 10 player in Ohio, the No. 6 quarterback in the country, the No. 24 player in the Midwest and the No. 189 overall recruit nationally according to ESPNU … Ranked as the No. 11 combination quarterback nationally by MaxPreps. Statistics: Started the last two seasons after sharing quarterback duties as a sophomore … Led team to a 10-0 regular season as a junior in 2011 before losing in the first round of the playoffs … Rushed for 1,093 yards while completing 36 of his 82 pass attempts (43.9 percent) for 729 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions … During 8-2-1 senior year, passed for 1,990 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,120 yards and nine scores. Honors: Named the 2012 Associated Press Ohio Division III Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year … One of four quarterbacks named to the first team on the Associated Press Ohio Division III All-State unit. All-Star Games And Camps: Played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Los Angeles Jan. 4 … Invited to the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp in Redondo Beach, Calif., in 2012 … Attended Ohio State's summer camp in 2011. Brian Kelly's Comments: "Malik has obviously showed himself at that high level in camps where he went out and really excelled. He can throw it, he can run it, he's got great versatility … and he's a really, really smart kid." Archbishop Alter Head Coach Ed Domsitz Comments: "Malik can function well in an option offense or a spread offense. He can do some things that all athletes can't do." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "He's the mirror image of [Everett] Golson. He's about that size. He's not the passer Everett is, but he has a real live arm and is an excellent runner. Brian Kelly and Chuck Martin have a lot of work to do on his passing. As soon as there is a hint of a pass rush, he takes off. He needs to stay in the pocket better." Recruitment: Joined offensive linemen Hunter Bivin, Colin McGovern and Mike McGlinchey as verbal commitments during Notre Dame's junior day weekend March 24-25 … Had taken previous unofficial visits to Cincinnati, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin … Primary recruiter was defensive line coach Mike Elston, along with offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Chuck Martin … Took his official visit Nov. 17 for home finale versus Wake Forest and was hosted by freshman cornerback KeiVarae Russell. Why He Chose Notre Dame: "It's the best place to become the most successful. I'd like to be a first-round NFL draft pick, and major in marketing." Jason Sapp's Scouting Report: Plays out of both shotgun and under center … Has the ability to extend the play, manages the play-action game and throws well on the run — all traits that are vital in a spread attack … Capable of running a sound read-option play. 2013 Projection: Like Gunner Kiel in 2012 and Everett Golson in 2011, a redshirt campaign would appear to be in the cards while he assimilates into the offense and his new surroundings.