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Notre Dame Football: Zaire, Kizer Will Share Reps Week 1 vs Texas

By Kyle Nishida

Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush (12) runs in the third quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blue team defeated the Gold team 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush (12) runs in the third quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blue team defeated the Gold team 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The quarterback position was a huge point of concern for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish heading into the 2016 college football season. It appears the program has found a short-term solution to their current predicament.

Head coach Brian Kelly has decided to have quarterbacks Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer split time against the Texas Longhorns. The two quarterbacks had been competing against one another to become the full-time starter.

However, it appears the position battle is too close to call, which is why they will share reps for at least right now. One could see why this position battle is so closely contested. Both players are really good.

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Malik Zaire has shown flashes of brilliance as the starting quarterback of the Irish. He only has three career starts, but he has looked impressive both with his arm and on the ground.

In three starts, Zaire has completed 59 of 90 passes for 790 passing yards, six passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also ran for 386 rushing yards and two touchdowns in those three starts.

The issue about Zaire is he broke his ankle in Week 2 of the 2015 season. As a result, DeShone Kizer became the starting quarterback and absolutely flourished in the role.

In the 13 games he played in (11 starts), Kizer completed 211 of 335 passes for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 525 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Zaire has a 3-0 record as the Irish’s starting quarterback. Meanwhile, Kizer has a respectable 8-3 record as the starting quarterback.

It appears both guys are capable of being the full-time quarterback, which is why this is a tough decision for Kelly to make. However, it is important Kelly names a definitive starter at some point early in the season.

Splitting reps at the quarterback position does not usually work in the long run. Last season, the Ohio State Buckeyes ran into this problem. They struggled early because Urban Meyer could not name a definitive starter between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett.

Everyone likes to use the 2006 Florida Gators as the prime example of a team succeeding with a two-quarterback system. Unfortunately, this team is very misleading.

Chris Leak was the primary quarterback who led the Gators to the national title. Tim Tebow was simply that team’s run-first quarterback. Sure, Tebow got reps, but Leak was counted on the make the big throws in crunch time in 2006.

Also, Notre Dame is not interested in doing what that Florida Gators team did. Kelly is not putting any restrictions on these two guys. Both guys are dual-threat quarterbacks, and Kelly will play them as such.

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While Kelly’s decision is relatively understandable, it is still a risk move and is not a long-term solution. Texas should be an improved football program, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish need to be firing on all cylinders at the start of the season.

Notre Dame’s season opener against the Longhorns is on September 4 at Texas Memorial Stadium.

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