Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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in 2016 would seem wasteful. Potentially, Kelly could use him as a change-up option in red-zone/short- yardage situations, or even utilize him at running back or receiver the way Ohio State did with 2013 starter Braxton Miller, who carried 40 times and also caught 24 passes during the 2015 regular season, while remaining a threat to pass the ball. Like Kizer, Zaire also has displayed powerful leadership traits. "Most [players] that I have been around in 25 years separate for a pe- riod of time during an injury," Kelly said. "They just naturally separate. [Zaire] hasn't separated at any time from the club. It's been as if he's had an ankle sprain, not a fracture, dislo- cation. "Quite contrary to any other player that I've had, he's maintained that close association with everything that we do. … He has not missed one quar- terback meeting. He's at every practice. Pretty amazing young man." In terms of having to come through on big stages against quality foes, leadership and being a dual threat as a passer and runner, Kizer and Zaire provide skills and intangibles that should make them as strong a quar- terback tandem as there is in college football in 2016. And just in case some more drama occurs, freshman Brandon Wimbush, whose physical skills at least rival Zaire's and Kizer's, could well become a viable third option like Kizer was in 2015. Quarterback quandaries often have been a storyline during the Kelly era, but it should be a strength in years to come. 3. THE BEGINNING AND END Every season there are at least two "power" road games in which Notre Dame is the projected underdog. In 2013 it was Michigan and Stan- ford, and the Irish lost both. In 2014 it was Florida State and USC, and again both resulted in defeat. This past season it was Clemson and Stanford, with excruciatingly near misses in the closing seconds of both setbacks. Next year 's Irish schedule features a visit to Texas to begin the season and a journey to USC to end it. The outcomes in those two outings likely will determine Notre Dame's College Football Playoff contention. It's easy to downplay Texas after 6-7 With quarterback now a team strength, the Irish may look to find ways to get both junior Malik Zaire (above) and sophomore DeShone Kizer on the field in 2016. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND