With The First Pick
Fansided

DeShone Kizer Officially Named Notre Dame’s Starter

By Carl Cockerham

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is the starter now! 

Malik Zaire was the incumbent in 2015 until he went down in the second game of the season. Then DeShone Kizer took over and looked good, throwing for 2,880 yards, 21 TDs and 10 INTs. From there, many wondered who would start in 2016.

Head coach Brian Kelly didn’t name a starter after Spring Practice, when most starters are named. He didn’t even have a true starter named after training camp, going into the first game of the season. He went into the opener against Texans planning to play them both.

But Kizer foiled those plans, taking over the game, throwing for five TDs and running for another. Zaire, on the other hand, was only able to finish with just 23 total yards. Then of course, many would wonder if Kizer’s performance was enough to win the job.

And per NFL.com, the redshirt sophomore told reporters he is indeed the starter going forward. NFL scouts are in love with him now as NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein recently compared Kizer to Tennessee Titans great Steve McNair. Zierlein loves is “arm strength” and “decent touch.”

Kizer was fellow NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s favorite to win the Heisman before he was named the starter. And he’s my favorite to come off the board before the rest of the quarterbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft. Kizer plays in a pro style and Spread Offense.

So there’s nothing not to like going forward for his team, the Heisman voters or the scouts.

Home/Quarterback Prospects