Last weekend, the news broke out that former Notre Dame QB Malik Zaire has decided that he will transfer to the University of Florida pending the SEC ruling. Malik Zaire has been favoring Florida but he wasn’t sure if Florida would be able to land him. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Zaire decided to make his decision public that Florida is where he wants to go if the SEC graduate transfer rule changes in Florida’s favor. Malik Zaire picked the Florida Gators over the Texas Longhorns. Now that the possibility of Malik Zaire ending up at Florida is real, what kind of impact will he make in the ongoing quarterback competition?
Malik Zaire was a four-star dual threat quarterback coming out of high school. Zaire signed with the Notre Dame Fighting Trish over the Alabama Crimson Tide. In his four years at Notre Dame, Zaire was always in line for the starting job but never won the job. Last season, Malik Zaire played three game before getting injured. After his four years playing with the Irish, he decided it was time for him to play elsewhere. Malik graduated from Notre Dame which means he can come into a new school and play immediately as a graduate transfer. Malik Zaire ultimately decided that the University of Florida is where he should go. Now, if the SEC changes their rule about graduate transfer, Malik Zaire will be competing for the starting QB job with Feleipe Franks, Luke Del Rio and Kyle Trask.
What kind of impact of Malik Zaire make in Florida’s QB competition? Zaire most likely becomes Feleipe Franks’ biggest threat in stealing his starting job. Feleipe Franks is currently in the lead for the starting QB position. He’s tall, has a strong arm, plenty of confidence and was recruit by Coach Jim McElwain. Fans started too really like Feleipe Franks after his second spring game as they say a lot of potential in the redshirt-freshman. His teammates believe that Franks is their QB that can lead the Florida Gators to the promise land.
Malik Zaire has more experience than Feleipe Franks. Franks has never played a collegiate football in his young career. Zaire definitely brings experience to the table and he can hurt defenses using his legs. On the other hand, Feleipe Franks has a cannon for an arm. He also knows the playbook a little better than Zaire since Franks has been there since January of 2016 and Zaire hasn’t even been accepted at the University of Florida.
At the end of the day, I believe Feleipe Franks will win the starting job for the Florida Gators QB battle. Malik Zaire does have experience and can make plays with his legs but he’s not what Coach McElwain likes in a quarterback. Feleipe Franks enrolled early and redshirted his freshman so he can be the starting QB for the Florida Gators in 2017. He’s not going to let somebody from the outside come and take his job. Feleipe Franks has the arm strength, knows the playbook, has his teammates on his corner and has the swagger to be a start QB at the University of Florida. Malik Zaire will push Feleipe Franks harder than what Del Rio and Trask can do. Malik Zaire will probably be the backup and Feleipe Franks will be the starter.
