Week Nine's Overnight Sensation: Zach Calzada, Quarterback

Each Monday during the 2021 Texas A&M football season, we’ll identify a first or second-year Aggie player who delivered an exceptional performance and earned the distinction of being the week’s ‘Overnight Sensation.’ 

Based on toughness and grit alone, there was only one choice.

Saturday certainly wasn't his best game, and the Aggie offense didn't even reach the end zone on the day. However, quarterback Zach Calzada continues to endear himself to the 12th Man in a way that very few before him ever have.

First, he led the Aggies to a comeback win over Colorado in place of an injured Haynes King. After two consecutive losses, he engineered the upset of a lifetime over No. 1 Alabama. This week, he gutted out a top-15 win over No. 13 Auburn, 20-3.

With the game tied 3-3 and the Aggies driving deep into Tiger territory, back-to-back-to-back penalties turned a first-and-goal situation at the 4 into first-and-goal at the 24.

On second down, Calzada took off on a quarterback draw for a gain of 10. Before the next snap, the Aggie signal-caller fell to the turf and had suffered an apparent shoulder injury. Blake Bost handed the ball off on third down as Seth Small then kicked a go-ahead field goal.

Jimbo Fisher said postgame that Calzada dislocated his left shoulder on the play.

"We wouldn't have put him in if there wasn't no strength or anything in it to be able to function," Fisher said. "He still had all of his strength. Sometimes it happens like that, so he was good."

One play into A&M's next possession, Calzada returned and helped guide another field-goal drive. Simply by being inserted back into the lineup, Calzada provided a jolt to a Kyle Field crowd of 109,835.

"I could tell he was in a lot of pain," offensive lineman Kenyon Green said. "That's the type of quarterback I want to play for and protect, so it was great. I can see that he would come back in and fight for us."

His stat line was modest, finishing 15-of-29 for 192 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions to speak of. In short, Calzada was exactly what the Aggies needed him to be in a defensive struggle.

"He ain't always perfect, but I'm going to tell you what, that's a competitor, man," Fisher said.

The toughness we've seen out of the sophomore from Sugar Hill, Georgia, will go down in Texas A&M lore as the stuff of legend.

Injured vs. Alabama. Returns to upset the top-ranked Tide. Injured vs. Auburn. Returns to help the Aggies win their first-ever home game in a top-15 knife fight against the Tigers.

"With somebody like that leading the team — and he's tough — it's good for everybody," running back Isaiah Spiller said. "It encourages everybody and encourages us, and we kept fighting."

Calzada has endeared himself to his teammates, and he has endeared himself to Aggies everywhere.

Should the Maroon & White add to this four-game winning streak, Calzada will have a huge part in it.

The legend is continuing to grow.

Calzada's stats vs. Auburn
Completions: 15
Attempts: 29
Passing Yards: 192
Touchdowns: 0
Interceptions: 0
Rushing Yards: 8

Calzada's 2021 stats
Completions: 115
Attempts: 208
Passing Yards: 1,364
Touchdowns: 12
Interceptions: 7
Rushing Yards: 26