Transfer Portal QB Zach Calzada to Visit Kentucky

When the day started, we were unclear about who Kentucky was targeting in the transfer portal at the quarterback position. By the day’s end, we have two confirmed visitors.

Former Texas/Duke QB Maalik Murphy was on campus today for an official visit. KSR has learned that Kentucky expects Zach Calzada to arrive in Lexington for an official visit on Tuesday.

Calzada is a college football journeyman whose career started in the SEC. As a redshirt freshman at Texas A&M, he was unexpectedly called into action when Haynes King suffered a broken leg against Colorado. Calzada threw the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown with 2:41 on the clock.

The Georgia native became a household name in the state of Texas when he played the best game of his career against Nick Saban’s top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Calzada completed 21-31 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-38 win, helping Jimbo Fisher secure his greatest victory in College Station.

Calzada transferred to Auburn for Bryan Harsin’s second and final season. The quarterback did not play before undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. That’s when Calzada hit the portal again, this time dropping down to the FCS ranks.

Over the last two years, Calzada has been putting up numbers at Incarnate Word. In 2023, he ranked third in the FCS with 288.7 yards per game. He completed 66.4% of his passes for 2,598 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. This fall those stats were even better. He completed just shy of 66% of his passes for 3,744 yards, 35 touchdowns (No. 2 in FCS), and nine interceptions to earn Southland Football Player of the Year honors.

Incarnate Word’s season ended over the weekend in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. He entered the transfer portal on Monday as a graduate transfer.

The Kentucky football depth chart has three freshmen at quarterback. The Wildcats need more experience and this guy has plenty of it.

Before you ask, there’s no way of telling what this visit means for Kentucky’s chances with Maalik Murphy or how that will shake out. Kentucky is bringing in multiple players who play the same position throughout the month of December. The more potential options they have to fix the offense, the better.

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