Kentucky football has found its starting quarterback for next year in the transfer portal.
Zach Calzada, a transfer from Incarnate Word, has committed to Wildcat football.
“Let’s work”, posted Calzada to his personal Instagram announcing the move.
Calzada is a redshirt senior and ranked as a three-star transfer portal recruit by On3. He originally committed to Texas A&M as part of the 2018 high school graduating class.
Fans may know Calzada from his time at A&M, where he replaced now-Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket passer Haynes King after an injury in 2021. Calzada led the Aggies to a 41-38 win over then-undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide.
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Since, he’s become somewhat of a journeyman college quarterback. This will be his 7th college season, as he’s also spent time with the Auburn Tigers and Incarnate Word — most recently leading the Cardinals to their first ever undefeated season in Southland Conference play.
He’s coming off a great statistical season at Incarnate Word — throwing for 3,791 yards (fifth in FCS), 35 touchdowns (second in FCS), and completing 65% of his passes. In his two years in San Antonio, Calzada accumulated over 6,500 yards of total offense.
Calzada is likely to feature as somewhat of a bridge starting quarterback for the Wildcats, as he is facing his last year of eligibility.
He is likely setting up rising-sophomore Cutter Boley to be Kentucky’s quarterback of the future, who look promising but in need of more developmental time towards the end of last season. Last year’s starting quarterback, Brock Vandagriff, looks unlikely to return but has yet to hit the transfer portal.