Quarterback Malik Zaire reportedly set to join Florida Gators

The Florida Gators’ quarterback race just became more interesting – and competitive.

Malik Zaire, a highly coveted Notre Dame graduate transfer, will visit Florida this week with an eye on joining the Gators, according to reports from 247Sports and Fox Sports.

Speaking at the Elite 11 quarterback camp in Redondo Beach, California, Zaire said he is eager to test himself against SEC competition.

“Coming from Notre Dame, you’re playing top games every week, and I wanted to continue that trend,” Zaire told Luke Stampini of 247Sports. “I didn’t want to run from the challenge, I wanted to embrace the challenge.”

Zaire’s decision comes on the heels of the SEC’s decision last Friday to relax its rules on graduate transfers.

The conference reduced the penalty from three years to one year for schools that have graduate transfers who fail to meet academic benchmarks. UF faced a three-year ban from taking graduate transfers because former graduate transfers Mason Halter and Anthony Harrell failed to meet SEC academic requirements two years ago.

Zaire now is able to join the Gators, a move that had long been rumored although not formally announced.

Zaire, a 22-year-old left-hander, will have separate himself in a crowded quarterback room, led by redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks, who end the spring the frontrunner for the starting job.

Zaire must show he can handle a new offense in time for Florida’s Sept. 2 opener against Michigan outside of Dallas.

Florida coach Jim McElwain said this spring coaches could tailor the Gators’ scheme to a player with more running ability than the current crop of signal-callers.

Four of Florida’s five current quarterbacks are pocket passers.

“The best guy is going to play, whoever’s ready,” McElwain said. “I think we can adjust based on what we need to do.”

Zaire said the adjustment will go beyond X’s and O’s.

“I’m going in there to be a part of the team and do what I can to help the team win and win the team’s respect,” he told Stampini. “There’s other guys out there on the field, too, So being a good teammate is first and foremost. Being a good teammate and letting the other things happen when they happen and continue to work hard.

“I think I bring some value and good things to the team, so I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Zaire, who also considered Texas, Wisconsin and Harvard, has much to prove as a player following an uneven career at Notre Dame.

During his first college start, Zaire was named the MVP of the Music City Bowl in 2014 in a win over LSU.

He then opened the 2015 season as the starter but suffered a broken ankle against Virginia during the second game and eventually would lose his starting job to DeShone Kizer. Zaire was just 7-of-18 passing for 111 yards at the time of his injury, but had rushed for 87 yards on 10 carries against the Cavaliers.

Zaire struggled during the 2016 opener, a 50-47 overtime loss to Texas that began a trying season for Notre Dame – the Fighting Irish finished 4-8. Zaire was 2-of-5 passing for 23 yards and failed to gain a yard on three carries.

Zaire attempted just 18 passes and 17 rushes the remainder of last season. He announced in November he would transfer from Notre Dame.

But Zaire gives the Gators experience at a position where the team has struggled since the departure of Tim Tebow following the 2009 season.

Zaire also gives options to McElwain and embattled offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier a season after the Gators’ attack ranked 116th of 128 teams nationally.

Franks ended spring practices the frontrunner to become the 2017 Gators’ starting quarterback. But while the 6-foot-6, 219-pound Franks possesses prototypical size and arm strength, he struggles with intermediate passes and has yet to throw a pass at the college level.

Fellow redshirt freshman Kyle Trask is Franks’ back-up, a role he also held as a high school player in Houston. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Trask is a pinpoint passer but needs to gain experience and develop his leadership skills.

Redshirt junior Luke Del Rio opener the 2016 season Florida’s starter, but injuries to his knee and later his shoulder derailed his season. Del Rio’s lack of arm strength also were exposed, but he hopes to join the mix once he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

Like those three QBs, incoming freshman Jake Allen, is a pocket passer and undoubtedly will redshirt in 2017.

Kadarius Toney, also a first-year freshman, does offer dual-threat abilities. But he was designated as an “athlete” by recruiting services and likely will have a less traditional role where coaches can exploit his versatility.

Given Franks’ inconsistency, Trask’s inexperience and Del Rio’s questionable health and arm strength, Zaire well could be under center for the Gators to open next season.

But Zaire said Wednesday’s visit is the beginning of a process.

“I go down there Wednesday and kind of just see everything and tour everything and set some stuff up,” he told 247Sports. “Just try to engrain myself on being a Gator. Excited for the opportunity and eager to get there.

“I’m going down there and just seeing things. Just sit down with coach and be able to just see everything. Just one step at a time.”