Junior in-state QB comments on Meyer

Urban Meyer's tenure in the college football coaching ranks has been highlighted by a string of great quarterback play. From Alex Smith to Chris Leak to Tim Tebow, Meyer and his quarterbacks are often closely associated.

Now that he has been officially introduced as the head coach at Ohio State, Meyer's activities on the recruiting trail will be closely watched and the position that is sure to attract great interest is quarterback.

The Buckeyes started true freshman Braxton Miller for most of the 2011 season, so the position looks secure for the near term. With quarterback play being so critical to success at the college level, though, most teams try to recruit at least one quarterback in each class to ensure depth.

Class of 2011 holdover Cardale Jones is already slated to come in with the 2012 class, and Luke Fickell's staff had extended several offers already to quarterback prospects in the 2013 class. One of those offers went out to Kettering (Ohio) Archbishop Alter's Malik Zaire, who gave his reactions to Meyer's hire at Ohio State shortly after the press conference to introduce him wrapped up in Columnbus.

"I think Urban Meyer is going to be great for the program, for Braxton and the Ohio State offense and for the Ohio State community," Zaire said. "I definitely see him as the start of a new era and a new tradition at Ohio State."

The 6-1, 190-pound Zaire has listed Ohio State and Wisconsin as his two favorites since the beginning of the recruiting process. A dual-threat, left-handed quarterback, Zaire gave his take on how his game fits with the offense Meyer has run in the past.

"I feel it fits my game in some aspects in terms of explosive ability and scoring points," he said.

As a junior, Zaire completed 36-of-75 passes for 729 yards and five touchdowns against just one interception in 10 regular season games. He also rushed 148 times for 984 and 14 touchdowns during the regular season.

With his junior season complete, Zaire is already back in training and will next showcase his talents at the U.S. Army Junior Combine in San Antonio, Tex., in January.