Malik Jamaal Zaire (born February 28, 1995) is an American media personality and former collegiate footballquarterback. He currently works for the sports media company Overtime as on-air talent and as a producer, as well as a color commentator for college football games on the CBS Sports Network.[1] He played college football at Notre Dame, before transferring to Florida as a graduate transfer.
Early years
Zaire attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. As a senior, he earned 2012 AP Ohio Division III Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year accolades with 1,990 yards passing, 1,120 yards on the ground and 33 total touchdowns (24 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns).[2]
Zaire did not play in any games as a freshman at Notre Dame in 2013.
2014 season
Prior to his sophomore season in 2014, Zaire competed with Everett Golson to be starting quarterback.[5][6] Golson won the job with Zaire as the backup.[7][8] He received his first extensive playing time against the USC Trojans, replacing Golson, who was benched. He completed 9 of 20 passes for 170 yards and a rushing touchdown in the game.[9] After spending the entire season as Golson's backup, Zaire started the 2014 Music City Bowl,[10][11] becoming the first left-handed quarterback to ever start for the Fighting Irish.[12] Zaire completed 12 of 15 passes for 96 yards with one touchdown, and ran for 96 yards on 22 carries scoring one touchdown, leading Notre Dame to a 31–28 victory over LSU and earning the game's MVP.[13]
2015 season
The Fighting Irish opened spring practice with an open competition at quarterback, but neither Zaire or Everett Golson separated themselves as the starter according to head coach Brian Kelly.[14] However, after Golson decided to transfer and play his final season at Florida State University, Zaire was named the starting quarterback.[15] In the second game of the season, against Virginia, Zaire fractured his ankle after a run. It was announced after the game that he would miss the rest of the season.[16][17]
2016 season
Zaire battled DeShone Kizer before the season for the starting quarterback position. Both shared snaps in the team's first game, a loss to Texas. Statistically Kizer had a far better game than Zaire, earning Kizer the starting quarterback position. Zaire played little during the remainder of the season. After graduating from Notre Dame in May 2017, Zaire announced that he had transferred to the University of Florida to play a fifth year in the 2017 season.
Florida
2017 season
Zaire started two games and appeared in four. He finished with an overall record of 0–2 as a starter, completing 57.1 percent of his passes for 349 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception.
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Zaire was invited to attend the Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.[18] He did not make the Jaguars roster.
Rivals: