Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada enters the transfer portal
Quarterback Zach Calzada has entered the transfer portal and will not play in Texas A&M’s Gator Bowl clash with Wake Forest.
There has been no indication as to which program Calzada intends to transfer.
Calzada’s decision likely means walk-on freshman Blake Bost will start in the Gator Bowl. Bost has completed 2-of-7 passes for 18 yards.
Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher recently said former starter Haynes King, who missed most of the season with a broken leg, is not likely to play in the Gator Bowl.
The transfer will conclude an inconsistent year for the third-year sophomore from Sugar Hill, Ga.
Calzada passed for 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns but threw nine interceptions while completing 56.1 percent of his passing attempts.
He may be remembered most by Aggies for an amazing performance in a 41-38 victory over Alabama. He completed 21-of-31 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
In the last five minutes, he directed the Aggies on scoring drives for a touchdown and a walk-off field goal.
However, that was a high point in an otherwise mediocre season.
Calzada was originally beaten out for the starting quarterback competition by King in August camp. However, King was injured in the second game of the season against Colorado.
That forced Calzada into the lineup. He struggled most of that game but managed to lead the Aggies to a 10-7 victory when he lofted a touchdown pass to Isaiah Spiller with just over two minutes remaining.
He later struggled in losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State and threw two fourth-quarter interceptions — including a pick-six — in a 29-19 loss to Ole Miss.
Calzada’s decision to transfer rekindles memories of the 2015 season when quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen both announced plans to transfer in early December. That resulted in Jake Hubenak starting a 27-21 loss to Louisville in the Music City Bowl. Hubenak passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns in that loss.
Dude, he had shoulder surgery and would never be able to play in the bowl game anyway. He's a great competitor and one tough mother.Jarrin' Jay said:
I don't mind it but the timing is a killer and erases any goodwill for his Ws over Bama and Auburn and toughness.
Can't wait 18 days and play one more game?!?!?
Unless King is 1000% don't play him in the bowl game. It'll be what it'll be, likely an L but so be it.
I really wish him well at his next school. Gig 'em, Zach!
TxAg76 said:TyperWoods said:AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
Agree
Oh hell no.
The bigger the stage, the more heat he should EXPECT.
If any kind of social media reactions, good or bad, played into his decision, that doesn't bode well for him and his decision making.
A lot different when you're getting paid NFL $
Not a knock on anyone. Could be a win/win/win under the circumstances.
Sterling82 said:
I would hope this decision wasn't based on mean tweets from a few idiot fans (assuming they were even fans). What reeks though, is abandoning teammates that supported him when he was struggling. I guess he wants to find a place where he can go through spring practice but this type thing is the worst of college football.
Mean tweets are the downfall of this country.
When arm chair coaches post something like this, most knowing nothing about and have never played one down of football in front of thousand of fans, hell, I'd leave also. Way to go arm chairs, now we face an oppponent that has a chance of beating us. I hope the hell you idiots are happy. Calzada played his heart out and you fools acted like he didn't care whether he won or not. I hope he goes to a team where he can be a #1 deaft choice!AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
While its possible this is the case, I don't accept this paradigm.AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
Somewhere recently I heard there are roughly a half million living Aggies grads today. What that means is that roughly 499,000 were not blasting or shaming him on twitter or other social media. Someone needs to help him find some perspective here. While there might be plenty of people swearing or cursing under their breath in their living rooms, the vast majority were not publicly critical of him. We accepted the inconsistency as mistakes of a young athlete who was learning 'on the job'.
Someone needs to counsel him about this fact, there won't be any lesser expectations or critiques of him at any D1 program with Top 20 aspirations. Accept those complaints as a vocal minority and trust your coach and teammates. Leaving your team before their season is bad form. There is one game left this season Zach. One game.
If he's healthy, he should play. If he's hampered by injury or surgery, then Godspeed Zach. Thank you for putting it on the line. I sure wish you could stay as a team member and Aggie.
There won't be any fewer critics at any other winning D1 program. Thin skin won't help him in the future.SD1971 said:
Where does it say that he has to read social media? Nothing says you have to look at a train wreck when it happens. If he can't hack it here then he won't hack it anywhere else. I wish him all the best because he just joined the quitters.
AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
If players allow social media posts by fans to affect their on-field performance, then perhaps they aren't ready to play in big-time programs. What happens between a players ears is just as important as what they have in their arm.
Mas89 said:
Quit kicking a dead horse. Thanks Zach and bye.
Who will be QB in the Gator Bowl?
Personally, I'm hoping we get a huge dose of Ainias Smith play QB.
Liucci has confirmed shoulder surgery is what is keeping Zach out of the bowl.Aginnebraska said:While its possible this is the case, I don't accept this paradigm.AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
Somewhere recently I heard there are roughly a half million living Aggies grads today. What that means is that roughly 499,000 were not blasting or shaming him on twitter or other social media. Someone needs to help him find some perspective here. While there might be plenty of people swearing or cursing under their breath in their living rooms, the vast majority were not publicly critical of him. We accepted the inconsistency as mistakes of a young athlete who was learning 'on the job'.
Someone needs to counsel him about this fact, there won't be any lesser expectations or critiques of him at any D1 program with Top 20 aspirations. Accept those complaints as a vocal minority and trust your coach and teammates. Leaving your team before their season is bad form. There is one game left this season Zach. One game.
If he's healthy, he should play. If he's hampered by injury or surgery, then Godspeed Zach. Thank you for putting it on the line. I sure wish you could stay as a team member and Aggie.
Godspeed Zach. I was proud of the team this year and I am certain he will grow. Hopefully his experiences this year will open doors for him. More importantly I want him to be a lifetime Aggie. Maybe grad school will be an option for him. Come back home Zach when football is done.74OA said:Liucci has confirmed shoulder surgery is what is keeping Zach out of the bowl.Aginnebraska said:While its possible this is the case, I don't accept this paradigm.AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
Somewhere recently I heard there are roughly a half million living Aggies grads today. What that means is that roughly 499,000 were not blasting or shaming him on twitter or other social media. Someone needs to help him find some perspective here. While there might be plenty of people swearing or cursing under their breath in their living rooms, the vast majority were not publicly critical of him. We accepted the inconsistency as mistakes of a young athlete who was learning 'on the job'.
Someone needs to counsel him about this fact, there won't be any lesser expectations or critiques of him at any D1 program with Top 20 aspirations. Accept those complaints as a vocal minority and trust your coach and teammates. Leaving your team before their season is bad form. There is one game left this season Zach. One game.
If he's healthy, he should play. If he's hampered by injury or surgery, then Godspeed Zach. Thank you for putting it on the line. I sure wish you could stay as a team member and Aggie.
harge57 said:
He will never be better than a 60% completion QB.
Tough kid. Extremely mediocre.
That's not true. Get receivers with NFL hands that can catch NFL passes and he'll be fine.
If so, then Jimbo has had to have made plans for who the QB will be in the bowl game.74OA said:Liucci has confirmed shoulder surgery is what is keeping Zach out of the bowl.Aginnebraska said:While its possible this is the case, I don't accept this paradigm.AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
Somewhere recently I heard there are roughly a half million living Aggies grads today. What that means is that roughly 499,000 were not blasting or shaming him on twitter or other social media. Someone needs to help him find some perspective here. While there might be plenty of people swearing or cursing under their breath in their living rooms, the vast majority were not publicly critical of him. We accepted the inconsistency as mistakes of a young athlete who was learning 'on the job'.
Someone needs to counsel him about this fact, there won't be any lesser expectations or critiques of him at any D1 program with Top 20 aspirations. Accept those complaints as a vocal minority and trust your coach and teammates. Leaving your team before their season is bad form. There is one game left this season Zach. One game.
If he's healthy, he should play. If he's hampered by injury or surgery, then Godspeed Zach. Thank you for putting it on the line. I sure wish you could stay as a team member and Aggie.
Surprised this has not been made public.
He has stated on more than once that King will not play this year.
Assume Bost to start?
What's the story on Stowers as a possible?
TAMU74 said:Agree 1000%MagnumLoad said:
Stay off social media. But the surgery, King and Weigman were most likely the real reasons.
1. Get the hell off of social media.
2. I posted this earlier and suspect Zack and Jimbo had a heart-to-heart discussion regarding his future at A&M playing quarterback.
3. There also could've been other factors that we don't know about that influence the decision.
Good luck Zack in your future pursuits.
This. Good luck, Zach. Keep your head down and nose off social media platforms...might help your mental health. I know I don't read that crap or take any of it seriously.
MaroonStain said:Sterling82 said:
I would hope this decision wasn't based on mean tweets from a few idiot fans (assuming they were even fans). What reeks though, is abandoning teammates that supported him when he was struggling. I guess he wants to find a place where he can go through spring practice but this type thing is the worst of college football.
Mean tweets are the downfall of this country.
Grow up all you Nancys....... sticks and stones....
The ONLY valid ANNUAL goal for ALL Aggie Sports is a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Gig'em !
FTAC '73
Thomas Sowell
AggieDub14 said:
This is what happens when bad fans use social media to attack 20 year olds. Good luck to him and I hope the jack***es learn a lesson here.
Especially as we think we are so classy and such good people. Wake up !!
The Agly Duckling said:
Damn. In my opinion - and I've stated this here on TexAgs many times - he has NFL potential. I almost can't believe he's leaving, unless it's because enough a-hole fans mistreated him on social media.
Bullcrap. He did not deserve to catch flak. He always did the best he could and he improved drastically over the course of the season.
Blake Bost needs everybody's support. Let's go.
The posters here and fans were relentless on him all year. I have 2 younger boys with aspirations of playing at the next level and A&M isn't even on their minds. Very sad to say the least. I've always read/been told that this site doesn't play into potential recruits factors. Wrong….