It looks like the waiting game paid off.
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According to Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports, former Notre Dame starting quarterback Malik Zaire will indeed be heading to Florida after waiting several months to make his transfer decision.
Spoke to Malik Zaire. He told me he expects to head to #UF on Wednesday & said he's very excited about the opportunity to play in the SEC.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) June 4, 2017
Feldman described Zaire as being "excited" to get a chance to play in the SEC.
Zaire was forced to wait this long to make his decision, as Florida was originally barred by SEC rules from taking on any extra graduate transfers after previous transfer had failed to complete academic requirements while at Florida. However, the SEC voted to change that rule earlier this week, leaving the door open for Zaire to make the move.
Texas, Wisconsin, and Harvard were the other contenders for Zaire up until Florida became the viable option. Texas was the favorite for Zaire had he not been able to transfer to Florida, but Zaire's interest in Florida is what led him to wait this long in the first place.
The move will be interesting for Florida, as Zaire will likely be the immediate starter for Jim McElwain and the Gators. The transfer will also allow Florida to develop redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks, who was emerging as the best starting candidate for the Gators in spring ball.
Zaire, a former four-star recruit, was showing promise at Notre Dame until an ankle injured sidelined him for the season in 2015. His starting spot was then usurped by Deshone Kizer, who didn't let go of that position. Kizer has since been taken in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
