Quarterback Heads Back To The SEC
There are several positions Kentucky needs to address in the transfer portal. One of those is the quarterback spot. Of the three signal callers who saw action last year, one is in the portal, another is undecided and a third is returning. As a result offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan was feverishly looking for an experienced player. They believe they have their guy who was starring at FCS level. Let’s introduce you to him as Kentucky Lands Zach Calzada.
A well-traveled Player
Calzada originally signed with Texas A&M way back in 2019. 247 Sports ranked him as the 34th-best quarterback prospect in the nation. Just for fun, some other players in that class included Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Spencer Rattler. Playing for Jimbo Fisher the six-foot-three, 195-pound Calzada appeared in three games as a freshman. He completed 12 of 24 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns. However, he did not play in the 2020 COVID season. In 2021 the Buford, Georgia native was pressed into action when starter Haynes King broke his leg against Colorado.
Playing in 12 games and starting 10, Calzada completed 56 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, it was one game in particular that made him a household name in College Station. Hosting top-ranked Alabama he hit on 21 of 31 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. In fact, he was injured on the final TD pass only to return late in the game. With the victory for the taking, he led the Aggies down to the 11-yard line which set up a game-winning field goal. In the process, it gave Fisher his biggest win.
Following the 2021 year he transferred to Auburn. Unfortunately, he didn’t play that year after have shoulder surgery. After Bryan Harsin was fired he searched for a new school.
Transferring Again
Calzada surprised many with his next destination, the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, an FCS school. You may remember this is the same school that produced Cam Ward, who had an outstanding year for Miami (Florida.) During the 2023 campaign, he started eight games completing 67 percent of his passes. In addition, he threw for 2,353 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding five more scores on the ground.
The 2024 season was a huge one for not only Calzada but Incarnate Word as well. Named Southland Conference Player Of The Year he threw for 3,751 yards, 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His yards and touchdowns ranked fifth and second respectively in FCS. The Cardinals made it to the FCS quarterfinals before losing to powerhouse South Dakota State.
Now that we’ve given you some history, let’s look at how he fits in as Kentucky Lands Zach Calzada.
Pushing For Playing Time
As we mentioned at the beginning Kentucky’s quarterback position needs experience. Cutter Boley, who started the season-ending loss to Louisville, is expected to head into the spring as the starter. Gavin Wimsatt, who transferred from Rutgers, is back in the portal. Finally, that leaves the starter for most of 2024, Brock Vandagriff. No one’s really sure what’s happening with him. Things in his camp have been very silent since the end of the year.
The Wildcats signed two quarterbacks in the 2025 recruiting class. They are Stone Saunders,, Pennsylvania player of the year, and Brennen Ward of Columbus, Ohio. Now, they have an experienced player to go along with the youngsters.
Thanks for checking out our profile as Kentucky Lands Zack Calzada. We’ll have an update on all of the team’s transfer portal action soon.
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