SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The story is one that has been told plenty of times: Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer is an Ohio kid who grew up wanting to receive a scholarship offer from Ohio State, but never got one.
This story isn't about that, though. This story is about how the outcome of Friday’s Fiesta Bowl between the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish largely hinges on Kizer’s right arm.
“Obviously it’s a game in which you want to win and you want to win every big game that you have an opportunity to play in,” Kizer said. “But Ohio State is a team that I said if I had the opportunity to play, it would be one of the biggest games I would ever have the opportunity to.”
That’s because even though Kizer did not grow up an Ohio State fan, he still wanted to earn that Ohio State offer. Just about every recruit who grows up in Ohio covets that.
He never got it, though, and went on to Notre Dame. And now, after a season-ending injury to Malik Zaire, Kizer was thrust into the spotlight as just a redshirt freshman.
Kizer has thrived in that role, though, and helped guide the Irish to a 10-2 mark and a berth in Friday’s Fiesta Bowl. Kizer has thrown for 2,596 yards and 19 touchdowns this season for the Fighting Irish.
“A big dude that runs well and throws well,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said of Kizer. “He’s done a very nice job for them.”
Added Buckeyes co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell: “For a younger guy, his first year really playing, to have that patience and that calming sense that even under pressure and scrambling and things like that is very unique in what he does.”
Kizer isn’t just a guy who can hurt you with his arm, though. He’s a very capable runner when things break down. Kizer has 499 rushing yards on the year and nine additional touchdowns.
“You’ve got to stay in your rush lanes because if you give him a little hole he will run right through the line and break it for 10, 20 yards,” Ohio State All-American defensive end Joey Bosa said. “He can throw the ball, but we need to worry about him on the ground and running for those big chunks.”
Kizer is the head of the snake that is Notre Dame’s offense — a very potent one. The Fighting Irish rank 24th nationally in total offense, averaging 471.5 yards per game and their 34.8 points per game ranks 30th in the country.
Containing Kizer will be a huge part of Ohio State trying to end its season with a win.
“[Notre Dame] might be the best one just in terms of the full package,” Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry said. “When you look at their offensive play, when you look at the way their running backs have stepped up and played really well and then you look at some of the guys they have at receiver and quarterback, just the total package and it’s probably the best offense we’re going to face.”
