North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky has an NFL decision to make in the coming weeks. Even if the junior declares for the pros, though, that doesn’t mean the Tar Heels will have a bare cupboard at quarterback.
Notre Dame signal-caller Malik Zaire is graduating this fall and will transfer for his final year of eligibility. According to Scout.com, Zaire plans to visit UNC and Wisconsin this week.
Zaire arrived in South Bend as a consensus 4-star prospect in Notre Dame’s 2013 recruiting class. He logged his first career start as a redshirt freshman in 2014 in the Music City Bowl, leading the Fighting Irish to a 31-28 triumph over LSU.
Zaire entered 2015 as the team’s starter but broke his ankle in the second game of the season at Virginia. He battled redshirt sophmore DeShone Kizer for the starting job this past offseason. Kizer was named the full-time starter after Notre Dame’s season-opening loss to Texas.
The 6-0, 225-pound Zaire is a threat to pass and run. He’s 58-of-98 (59.2%) for 816 yards and six touchdowns (with no interceptions) in his career as a passer. The Kettering, Ohio, native also rushed for 324 yards and two touchdowns while at Notre Dame.
Trubisky, whom CBS Sports lists as the No. 1 quarterback prospect for the 2017 NFL Draft, has one year of eligibility remaining. Redshirt freshman Nathan Elliott has served as his primary backup this season, while true freshmen Chazz Surratt and Logan Byrd will also compete for the starting job should Trubisky depart.
UNC will host Notre Dame next season on Oct. 7, per fbschedules.com.