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Notre Dame: DeShone Kizer Deserves Starting Quarterback Job

By Kyle Nishida

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws in the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish came into their Week 1 matchup against the Texas Longhorns without a definitive starting quarterback. Following the 50-47 loss, it is blatantly obvious who the No. 1 quarterback should be.

Head coach Brian Kelly started the game by playing DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire evenly. Kelly rotated his quarterbacks in every other series in the first half. In the second half, Kelly stuck with one guy.

That one guy was Kizer. In the first half, Kizer was responsible for both of the Irish’s touchdowns. He continued to impress into the second half.

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He completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 215 yards and added 13 carries for 77 yards on the ground. He threw five passing touchdowns and scored one rushing touchdown too.

Meanwhile, Malik Zaire struggled whenever he was in the game. He only played in three series (two in the first half and one in the second half). He started the second half, and the Irish went three-and-out. After that, Kelly chose to stick with Kizer.

Zaire only completed 2 of his 5 pass attempts for 23 passing yards. He only had three carries for zero rushing yards.

It was clear Kizer was more effective quarterback against Texas. However, Kelly would not commit to Kizer being the full-time starting following the loss.

Kelly held his position into his August 6 press conference. In fact, Kelly said he had not had any contact with Kizer or Zaire to discussion to looming quarterback decision.

"“I haven’t sat down and talked with to either one of them, so before we do that we don’t have any plans to make any decisions.”"

Kelly did say that he and his coaching staff will make a decision “this week.”

Delaying this quarterback position is a bit of gamesmanship on Kelly’s part. He does not want to tip his hand just yet.

However, this prolonged quarterback battle jeopardizes the rest of Notre Dame’s season. Kelly needs to pick his primary quarterback soon.

Fortunately for him, DeShone Kizer made this an easy decision. Everyone probably knows Kizer will be the No. 1 quarterback, and frankly, he earned it.

Not only did Kizer have the better numbers, the Notre Dame offense looked more fluid and lethal with him taking the snaps. The offense consistently got positive yardage and kept the chains moving.

Meanwhile, the unit was much more stagnant with Zaire behind center. Of the 17 snaps Zaire took at quarterback, the Fighting Irish only picked up three first downs against Texas.

Next: Notre Dame Still in CFB Playoff Picture Even with Texas Loss

Notre Dame is still a college football playoff contender even with the Texas loss, but they need to finish the season with only that one loss. DeShone Kizer gives the program the best chance at accomplishing that feat.

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