Report: Notre Dame's Zaire to pursue grad transfer for 2017 season

Malik Zaire is about to become a very sought-after man on the transfer market, as the Notre Dame quarterback is expected to be granted his release on Wednesday, a source told Pete Sampson of Irish Illustrated.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound quarterback is on track to graduate in December and is eligible for a graduate transfer, enabling him to play immediately in the 2017 season.

According to Sampson, Florida, Pitt, Michigan State and Wisconsin are the top candidates to land Zaire for next season. With the Fighting Irish not participating in a bowl game this year, Zaire won't be held down by the conflict of bowl practices throughout the month of December.

Zaire burst onto the scene with the Fighting Irish in the 2014 Music City Bowl, completing 12-of-15 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 96 yards and a score on the ground.

He would enter the 2015 season as the starter and delivered a dominant performance in a season-opening win over Texas, throwing for 313 yards and three scores. Unfortunately for Zaire, he would suffer a broken ankle the following week, ceding the starting job to DeShone Kizer in the process.

Kizer, who is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, would never relinquish the starting spot for the rest of his Notre Dame career.