New UF quarterback Malik Zaire waited nearly two years for another chance, so he wanted to be ready.
Zaire’s new teammates were shocked just how prepared he actually was from Day 1.
When Zaire arrived in June, he had coach Jim McElwain’s playbook down pat even though the 22-year-old graduate transfer spent the past four years at Notre Dame.
“He knew everything,” sophomore receiver Tyrie Cleveland said. “He was putting everybody in places to go. He knows all the offense. I was like, ‘Dang, that’s crazy.’
“I was very impressed.”
Zaire’s confidence, communication skills and even a dose of cockiness were on display Wednesday during the team’s media day, during which reporters were four or five deep around him when he took his seat.