Malik Zaire to ND
Consensus 4 star dual threat QB Malik Zaire out of Kettering, Ohio committed to ND today, continuing the nice little run they've had on offense these past few days. While Zaire had no Michigan offer, he is going to one of our big rivals, and had an OSU offer. He is ranked as the 7th best QB by Rivals and 136 overall. Looks like Meye missed out on another top Ohio recruit, and this one had an OSU offer.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
Much better for talent to go into the garbage disposal of ND than Ohio.
Way better for MIchigan that they go to a program that consitently underperforms than to a coach who traditionally hires great assistants and molds players into top NFL talent. Not really a good move for him, IMHO. Top dual threat qb from Ohio not playing for Urban Meyer? Whatever makes him happy.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
It wasn't a commitable offer, anyway.
/Bucknuts'd
I think it's time they officially drop the 'Michigan is arrogant' thing, given that they think one phone call from their coach could make any recuit in the country instantly flip to OSU.
March 26th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^
Did Tebow put them in touch?
March 26th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
It's funny they still believe that after the whole Kalis ordeal where Meyer wouldn't leave him alone and was calling him everyday...Oh jaded T$IO fans.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
Glad to see ND steal away a top recruit from Meyer. Not too worried about any QB going to ND, I'm fairly certain they have a graveyard on campus for the deaths of any ND QB's career.
J.T. Barrett is/was the top QB on OSU's board - not sure where you are getting your info.
Meyer told both Zaire and Trapman (another highly ranked instate QB) to come to camp this summer. Zaire's offer was given by the previous staff, so I can understand why he doesnt feel like auditioning for the new staff. Trapman will likely come to camp.
I personally think Zaire's tape is amazing, and was hoping he'd eventually end up a Buckeye. This is kinda a bummer. Hopefully we'll get Barrett but that's far from a lock at this point.
which is why I said supposedly. According to the ND Rivals article, Zaire is quoted as saying that he had a good relationship with Urban but was put off when then offered 7-8 QBs in a 2 week span. He also says he still on Ohio St. fan but that he thought ND was a better fit, FWIW.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
March 25th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
Looks like ND found the same gaping hole in the "fence around Ohio" that Hoke did.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:56 PM ^
It also probably didn't help that Urban kept calling him Malik Belgian Congo.
I heard he was calling him Tom Belgian Congo.
Strong, strong work, you two (PurpleStuff and BlockM).
March 26th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
And Berenger wasn't in the Sniper: Reloaded sequel that took place in the Congo....
March 25th, 2012 at 10:53 PM ^
I was checking out 11 Warriors today. About half the comments over there are shock that an OSU lock went somewhere else, the other half are saying that Meyer must have seen something he didn't like and cooled on him. There was talk that his completion % is too low, and that there are better prospects out there. By the way this is what they accuse Mgoblog fans of doing.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
"Brian Kelly continues big weekend as Malik Zaire commits to Notre Dame. He didn't have a committable offer from OSU yet and my bet is still if Urban wants him he gets him but there are some other players on tap as well."
-Actual board post from 11Warriors (not just a comment). You would think after the 50th time they had to say "so and so committed elsewhere, but if Urban decides he wants him, he'll get him," they might start to get a little worried.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:11 AM ^
This is getting laughable on their part.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a "non-committable offer" an oxymoron?
I've been trying to figure out this phrase "non-committable offer," and here's the different times it seems to apply...
1. The team offered you, but then filled at your position, so you still have an offer, but it's now non-committable. <- happening with Michigan at OL, LB
2. We like you, but not as much as those other guys, so you're on our "alternate" list.
3. We like you, but not as much as those other guys, and we want to guarantee that you'll come to our camp, or visit us to beg for a "committable" offer. <--maybe part of the issue with Zaire.
4. The previous coaches loved you and offered you, but now there are new coaches, and your offer is no longer committable. <--also a factor with Zaire.
5. You've also received an offer from Michigan, so if you commit to Michigan, we're going to claim your offer from us wasn't committable and we didn't really want you anyway.
Frankly, I think "non-committable offer" is more of an idea that we (fans) use to keep things straight. For example, Hunter Bivin was offered by Michigan at one point, but there aren't any spots left. Rather than saying he "doesn't have an offer," it's easier to categorize him as having a "non-committable offer." In other words, the coaches wanted him at one point, but circumstances have changed. I think the previous sentence describes the majority of "non-committable offers" we discuss.
I also think some kids take the words "We'd love for you to come play for us" as being offered, when that's not always the case. Sometimes coaches say that to placate kids, and sometimes that means "Down the road maybe you'll have a chance of getting a scholarship" or "We'd love for you to pay your own way to school and join the team." When only verbal offers can be extended up until the beginning of August, a lot of these things are pretty murky.
March 26th, 2012 at 10:54 AM ^
So a "non-committable offer" is a nice way of saying that the recruit is on the waitlist?
March 26th, 2012 at 10:58 AM ^
So this is applicable to an OL with a Michigan offer since we are full at this position. Ohio has only 5 total players and no QB recruit. They are also recruiting the QB position still. So they keep throwing out this term when it doesn't make sense.
While at the same time using stats showing how they beat us out head to head last year for recruits. Problem was many of those guys had their spots filled and that ship had sailed.
Just funny how they spin it to look good no matter what the situation.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:06 AM ^
Believe what you want, they were waiting for him to camp and to see him throw in person to extend the commitable offer. Believe me, all you michigan fans have worn out the "we cooled on him" garbage yourselves.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:20 AM ^
I like your handle. You'll fit in well here.
Edit: This was in reply to a guy with the name "IhateMichigan" or something like that.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:53 PM ^
He must have lost a bet to one of his buddies.
March 25th, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
Ohio will probably land Aaron Bailey, they'll be ok.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^
Wow! Four commits in one weekend. That sure is.... cute.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:06 PM ^
Mid-February weekends>End of March weekends
Get on our level ND.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:06 PM ^
Joey Johnson commited to North Dakota State today
I saw that you downvoted this thread. Are you jealous of the OP's screen name?
Its BS i was here first !
March 25th, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^
Meyer cooled on him because he couldn't beat a panther in a foot race. Word on the street is that the panther could recieve an OSU offer any day now.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
No worries, we have cougar on north campus
March 25th, 2012 at 11:33 PM ^
spoke with an Australian accent and it worked as the cougar went down under!
March 26th, 2012 at 12:15 AM ^
March 26th, 2012 at 12:45 AM ^
Yeah but it'll only be a non-committable offer.
/Meyer'd
March 25th, 2012 at 11:51 PM ^
Kettering, Ohio? That's where I live and I had no idea he was from here. I'll have to go watch him play. I'm glad he isn't going to Ohio. ND getting recruits doesn't really scares me anymore; at least not as much as if he went to Ohio.
It was probably easier to keep track of these things when things like "newspapers" existed.
March 26th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
Valid point. Plus he goes to a private school in Kettering, not sure if he lives here which is why ... along with the newspaper.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:31 AM ^
against their big east opponents
March 26th, 2012 at 12:40 AM ^
To me, this is the most "meh" commit of ND's weekend haul. It sounds like Alabama and OSU wanted Zaire to camp and earn an offer. Can't blame the kid for saying no, but he doesn't exactly fit the mold of ND QB and I wouldn't be surprised if he never did anything there.
The OT haul was impressive, but I assume most of them will decommit and go to some crazy place like Houston.
He had offers from both Bama and Ohio according to Rivals...where are you hearing that he didn't have offers/they wanted him to camp?
I believe I heard/read it from Bill Kurelic, if not others. Both Zaire and Mitch Trubinsky had conditional offers from Alabama and OSU. RollDamnTide might have more info.
Rivals doesn't distiniguish real offers and "offers".