Notre Dame spring practice depth chart preview: Quarterbacks

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With Notre Dame spring practice beginning later this month, CSNChicago.com is previewing each position group's depth chart and 2016 outlook. Today, we begin with the quarterbacks (each player's 2016 status is listed in parentheses).

Projected depth chart

1A: DeShone Kizer (RS Sophomore)
1B: Malik Zaire (RS Junior)
2: Brandon Wimbush (Sophomore)

Overview

Chances are, Zaire will be still be limited when Notre Dame begins spring practice in mid-March. If he follows the same injury recovery timeline from a broken and dislocated ankle as Joe Schmidt — who was injured Nov. 1, 2014 and wasn’t cleared for contact until late May of 2015 — he won’t be put in any position in which there’s any risk of re-injuring the ankle. But Zaire was already doing some light work in December, and should at the least participate in positional drills in March and April. That’s good news for him, given his zone read ability is already well known, so he can still work on refining some of the rest of his quarterback skillset to help him compete with Kizer.

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Kizer’s in a tricky spot, having steered Notre Dame’s offense to eight wins in his 11 starts (and playing well in losses to Clemson and Stanford) in place of Zaire. His game-winning heave to Will Fuller at Virginia sparked a breakout season in which he competed 62.9 percent of his passes for 2,880 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and he totaled 520 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns as well. He’s built out his foundation more than Zaire, who only has three starts in his college career, but will have to continue to grow his game over the next few months to keep his starting job. 

Coach Brian Kelly said on signing day the team’s initial plan is to redshirt Wimbush this fall, preserving the year of eligibility he would’ve gained had Zaire’s injury not forced him into a backup role last fall. The ultra-talented New Jersey native still has a bright future, but would’ve needed a monumental push to challenge Kizer and Zaire for the starting job in 2016. 

Outlook

Nothing will be decided during spring practice as to who’s the favorite to start Sept. 3 against Texas, but Kelly, associate head coach Mike Denbrock and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford will begin to collect data and evaluations on both Kizer and Zaire during spring practice that’ll be starting points for each player’s progress over the next six months. 

[MORE: Ohio State offers advice for Notre Dame's impending QB battle]

Incoming freshman

Given that Kelly’s plan is to redshirt Wimbush this fall, ideally, Ian Book (3*, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) would redshirt the 2016 season as well. But if Notre Dame needs an emergency backup quarterback, as it did last year after Zaire’s injury, Book could be that guy if it’s decided preserving Wimbush’s eligibility is more beneficial to the program. 

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