Kentucky will not officially come out and say that Incarnate Word transfer Zach Calzada will be the Week 1 starter at quarterback but all signs point to the seventh-year veteran being UK’s QB1. The Wildcats added him to the roster from the transfer portal for a reason. Calzada is now starting to appear on some […]
Kentucky will not officially come out and say that Incarnate Word transfer Zach Calzada will be the Week 1 starter at quarterback but all signs point to the seventh-year veteran being UK’s QB1. The Wildcats added him to the roster from the transfer portal for a reason. Calzada is now starting to appear on some preseason watch lists.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award released its watch list on Tuesday. Zach Calzada made an appearance.
The Golden Arm Award is presented annually to the top quarterback who is on track to graduate with their class. This year’s list includes 58 names. One was Kentucky’s expected starter.
Luckett’s Scouting Notebook: Zach Calzada
Over at KSR+, I put together scouting write-ups on each of Kentucky’s transfer additions from the offseason after watching film and collecting data. This is my breakdown of Zach Calzada.
The class of 2019 recruit started his career at Texas A&M and started 10 games for the Aggies as a redshirt sophomore in 2021. Calzada transferred to Auburn in 2022, but missed the entire season due to an injury in his non-throwing shoulder. The quarterback spent the last two seasons at Incarnate Word and led his team to the playoffs in 2024. Calzada is a seventh-year senior with one season of eligibility remaining. The quarterback will turn 25 years old during the 2025 season and has played 2,289 career snaps with 32 starts and a 23-9 record as a starter. Has accumulated 8,660 passing yards, 708 non-sack rushing yards, and 84 total touchdowns during his collegiate career.
Calzada has played in a pro-style and spread offense. The veteran thrived in Incarnate Word’s spread scheme operating primarily out of the shotgun. Calzada threw a high volume of screens and short passes out of spread sets but also accurately hit small window throws on go routes and connected on deep posts. Calzada has some real throwing power and can drive the football vertically. Has a tendency to drop deep in the pocket and does make too many throws off his backfoot. Plays an unorthodox brand of football and looks to keeps plays alive by scrambling. Some Ben Roethlisberger-like play extension where reps just seem to go on forever even if he hasn’t left the pocket. Some of the most exciting reps on tape are of him extending plays and playing backyard football as pass rushers pursue. Was a surprisingly effective rusher and a key weapon in short-yardage situations. Not afraid to put his body on the line. Owns a windup motion but did a good job of getting the ball quickly.
Showed improved accuracy during his time at Incarnate Word and the ability to create out of structure. Produced solid results driving the ball down the field and kept the offense consistently ahead of the chains in the short passing game. A grizzled vet who oozes moxy. Calzada shows a feel for the quarterback position on tape and just has a way of making things happen. The quarterback avoids sacks, extends plays with his legs, and can make some magic happen out of structure. In structure, we have seen this quarterback play on time, thrive in a play-action structure, and make some good vertical throws. However, this is also a quarterback who peppered defenses with short accuracy at Incarnate Word.
Plays an exciting brand of football at quarterback with some risk taking but durability is a concern after battling injuries at all three stops.
Luckett’s Scouting Notebook: What Kentucky added to roster via the transfer portal
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