Zaire ready for next chapter of his career
GAINESVILLE — New UF quarterback Malik Zaire waited nearly two years for another chance, so he wanted to be ready.
Zaire’s new teammates were shocked by just how prepared he actually was from Day 1.
When Zaire arrived in June, he had coach Jim McElwain’s playbook down pat even though the 22-year-old graduate transfer spent the past four years at Notre Dame.
“He knew everything,” sophomore receiver Tyrie Cleveland said. “He was putting everybody in places to go. He knows all the offense. I was like, ‘Dang, that’s crazy.’ “I was very impressed.” Zaire’s confidence, communication skills and even a dose of cockiness were on display Wednesday during the team’s media day, in which reporters were four or five deep around him when he took his seat.
McElwain called the quarterback race “even” as the Gators prepared to open preseason practices Thursday.
Zaire, though, spoke with the self-assuredness of a starter, predicting big things for an embattled offense and even bigger things for a program seeking to rejoin the nation’s elite.
“I think we have the talent and potential to be the best offense in the country and the best show on TV,” he said. Zaire was not finished. “The plan is to win the national championship,” he said.
Zaire first will have to win the starting job in a muchanticipated race with Feleipe Franks, the front-runner following the spring game, and Luke Del Rio, the starter to open last season before injuries sidelined him.
“Of course I want to be out there for the first play and out there for the season,” Zaire said. “But who doesn’t?”
Zaire made sure to give himself the best chance possible by being as prepared as possible.
“He loves football,” offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said. “You know, through the recruiting process, the phone would ring, ‘Hey, I'm watching the replay of this game.’ ”
Unlike many newcomers, Zaire will not being playing catch-up during the first week or two of camp.
One reason is his intelligence level.
“He went to Notre Dame,” senior tight end DeAndre Goolsby said. “That’s not an easy school to get through.”
Experience is another reason Zaire will be ready.
“Here's a guy that's been through his time at Notre Dame and understands what it's all about,” Nussmeier said.
But the main reason Zaire will hit the ground running is the desire to make the most of his second and final chance.
Zaire effectively was kicked to the curb at Notre Dame after breaking his ankle during the second week of the 2015 season. When he returned, Zaire could not unseat eventual 2017 secondround draft pick DeShone Kizer and spent the rest of his time an afterthought in coach Brian Kelly’s plans.
Zaire said he rarely reflects on those trying experiences.
“I don’t really look too much at the past, because nobody cares about that at the end of the day,” he said. “Everybody cares about, especially me, what happens next.”
The Gators hope Zaire can be the missing ingredient for an offense that ranked last in the SEC in 2016.
The 6-foot, 225-pound left-hander definitely brings a new dynamic to the position. Frank, Del Rio and Kyle Trask are all pocket passers with limited mobility.
“He can make something out of nothing,” slot receiver Dre Massey said. “If the play breaks down, he can actually take off and run with it. I think that will help a lot.
“Instead of throwing the ball away or [throwing] an interception, he can take off and run with it.”
Zaire hopes his experiences at UF will provide a playbook for someone else to follow.
“There was no guideline or rule book on how to handle some of the stuff I’ve been through,” he said. “But me being able to write that chapter and helping the next person that goes through something similar has been huge for me. I think that made me stronger and better as a quarterback, more than even playing could have. Because so many things happen in the game of football that you can’t predict.”