Florida has long-been speculated as a landing spot for Notre Dame transfer QB Malik Zaire, but a recent report suggests it may not be happening. Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods.com reports that Zaire may announce his transfer destination on May 19. If that is the date, it would appear likely that the former Irish signal-caller has crossed the Gators off his list.

Due to past graduate transfers Mason Halter and Anthony Harrell failing to meet academic requirements at UF, the Gators are not allowed by the SEC to accept another graduate transfer at this time. The rule is expected to be addressed and potentially changed at the SEC spring meetings later this month, but those come after May 19.

Gators coach Jim McElwain has not gone on the record about Zaire, but has stated he would be open to taking graduate transfers if the rule changes and the Gators have an open spot. Mutual interest between Florida and Zaire has been widely reported this spring. Last month, Zaire appeared to be reaching out to Gators players on social media.

UF is expected to have five scholarship quarterbacks on roster this fall, but if Zaire joined as a sixth, he would be the most experienced having played in 17 games (58-of-98 passing, 816 yards, 6 TD; 72 carries, 324 yards, 2 TD). The only other quarterback with game experience on Florida’s roster is Luke Del Rio, who appeared in three games at Oregon State in 2014 and six games in an injury-shortened season with the Gators last year. Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask are redshirt freshmen. Kadarius Toney is an early enrollee. Jake Allen, a 2017 signee, has not yet arrived on campus.

Franks was the top passer in Florida’s spring game, going 8-for-14 for 119 yards and a touchdown. Trask struggled with the second-team offense against the first-team defense, while Toney impressed as a potential Wildcat quarterback.