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Report: Texas has reached out to grad transfer Malik Zaire

By Brad Berreman

Apr 16, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Malik Zaire (8) looks to throw in the first 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 Malik Zaire (8) looks to throw in the first 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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After missing out on one grad transfer quarterback, the Texas Longhorns are turning their attention to Malik Zaire.

As he looks to turn around the Texas Longhorns football program quickly, head coach Tom Herman pursued former LSU quarterback Brandon Harris as a graduate transfer. With Harris reportedly choosing North Carolina over the weekend, it’s back to the drawing board for Herman in search of a more experienced quarterback. But he is moving quickly.

According to Chip Brown of Horns Digest, Texas has reached out to former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire. Zaire started the last two season openers for the Fighting Irish against the Longhorns, before being injured the following week in 2015 and quickly giving way to DeShone Kizer last season.

Zaire was granted his release by Notre Dame late last November, and he reportedly visited Wisconsin and North Carolina in early December. Things have been quiet since then, though Zaire’s father told Scout.com just after Christmas that a transfer decision would not come until April. So here we are, on March 27, and Zaire could make a decision very soon.

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst named Alex Hornibrook the Badgers’ starting quarterback at the outset of spring practice a few weeks ago, so they may no longer be interested in adding Zaire. Baylor was also on Zaire’s radar, but they’ve since brought in former Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon as a grad transfer. Florida could also enter the mix, but head coach Jim McElwain may choose to go with a younger in-house quarterback and there’s been no clear indication the Gators are seriously interested in Zaire.

Related Story: 5 college football programs Malik Zaire could join and succeed

In Austin, Zaire would enter a competition with incumbent Shane Buechele and true freshman Sam Ehlinger for the starting job. That looks like a lateral move based on how things played out at Notre Dame, with no guarantee to start, but Zaire and Texas look like a marriage based on few (if any) other options at this point.

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