Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Zaire prepared to move ahead as new Gators QB
GAINESVILLE – New UF quarterback Malik Zaire waited nearly two years for another chance, so he wanted to be ready.
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. Zaire’s new teammates were shocked just how prepared he was from Day 1.
“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, during 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 Thursthrough day.
Zaire, though, spoke with the self-assuredness of a starter, while 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 much-anticipated race with Feleipe Franks, the frontrunner 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, the recruiting process, the phone would ring, ‘Hey, I'm watching the replay of this game and that play’ and those type of things.”
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 second-round 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 and kind woe is me, because nobody cares about that at the end of the day,” he said. “Everybody cares about, especially me, what happens next.”
“I think that has made me stronger and better as a quarterback than even playing could have been, because so many things happen in the game of football that you can’t predict.”