Texas A&M football: Quarterback battle underway in College Station

Texas A&M football has a quarterback battle on its hands, according to the Houston Chronicle. The Aggies are looking for a replacement for Kellen Mond, now on the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

Haynes King and Zach Calzada have emerged as the two lead candidates for the job.

King spent this past season as Mond’s backup, seeing action in two games. He threw his first collegiate touchdown against South Carolina. A 4-star prospect in the class of 2020, he led Longview (TX) HS to a state championship as a junior.

Calzada played in three games in 2019, but did not see the field in 2020.

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher gave little clues as to which quarterback might be winning the battle. He called both players “NFL talents” and said he couldn’t go wrong no matter who he chose.

Texas A&M finished 9-1 this past season and won the Orange Bowl against North Carolina. The Aggies start the year at No. 6 in the coaches poll and open the season Sept. 4 against Kent State.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey gave a more detailed breakdown of the two quarterbacks.

“Haynes is probably one of the best pure athletes on the team, but Zach has got some athletic ability of his own,” Dickey said. “Zach may be one of the best throwers of the ball that I’ve worked with. … He’s a very gifted thrower. Haynes is also a very gifted thrower. Both are very competitive.”

He added this tidbit, which seems to favor King slightly.

“Zach is probably going to be a lot better in the pocket for his (style of) game,” Dickey said. “Haynes is going to be a guy who can really extend plays and probably keep the defense a little more honest — probably a little more scared — with his ability to make plays with his feet.”

The speedy King can run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. His scrambling ability could give the Aggie offense an extra element that it wouldn’t have with Calzada. Whoever wins the job, Dickey said he is aware of the challenges that come with starting a young quarterback. But he believe King and Calzada are up to the challenge.

“They’ve both been in our system and understand all of the offense,” Dickey said. “We don’t have to start the season off necessarily thinking we have to taper way back from what we were doing with Kellen. Both are still young and don’t have a ton of playing experience.

“The one thing you have to guard against with a new quarterback is the feeling they have to make every play and everything is all on their shoulders.”