Former Texas A&M QB Zach Calzada commits to Auburn

Former Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada has committed to Auburn University, he tells On3.

Calzada, a redshirt sophomore, started 10 games this season in the place of Haynes King who suffered a season-ending leg injury in the first game. He’ll have immediate eligibility at Auburn as this will be his first time transferring.

The Buford, Georgia, native threw for 2,185 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions this year for Jimbo Fisher’s 8-4 squad. Calzada’s season completion percentage at 56.1% ranked 13 out of the SEC’s 14 starting quarterbacks.

Coming out of Lanier High School, Calzada was a top-500 prospect with 25 Division-I offers.

Zach Calzada announced that he would be entering the transfer portal on December 13. This news came before Texas A&M getting replaced by Rutgers in the Gator Bowl due to a Covid-19 outbreak on the team.

The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

The process of entering the portal goes through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request.

Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship is no longer valid. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school does not have to reoffer a scholarship.