'19 GA QB Zach Calzada

[BobbyMac]

Quarterback
Buford, GA
Lanier HS

Measurements:
6-3
195

Rankings:
247 Comp ..... NR
247 ............... 3* ..... #51 QB-P ..... #1349 OA ...... 82
Rivals ............ 3*
ESPN ............. NR

Offers:
Minny
Northwestern
NC State
Rice
SMU
Brown
Princeton
Toledo
Kent St
Troy
Liberty
Lehigh
Akron
App State
Chattanooga
Ga State
CCU
EKU
ODU
Samford
SoBama
TennTech

Media Links:

https://twitter.com/ZachCalzada

Zach Calzada - Hudl

Highlights:

<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/6068087/59ffe32c8cd3e00e4899da2d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BobbyMac]

Coach Rees visiting. Opening Nashville QB MVP - Invited to the Opening finals in Dallas. 3.8+ GPA

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Despite the wet conditions in Nashville, the QB’s showed up & showed out. <br><br>MVP: Zach Calzada (<a href="https://twitter.com/ZachCalzada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZachCalzada</a>) out of Lanier HS (GA). <br><br>Next stop: Dallas. �� <a href="https://t.co/bmWsUcYnde">pic.twitter.com/bmWsUcYnde</a></p>— Elite11 (@Elite11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elite11/status/988460820144144384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">QB <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachCalzada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZachCalzada</a> has been blowing up. Can spin it. <a href="https://t.co/fHcN6O7gfE">pic.twitter.com/fHcN6O7gfE</a></p>— SB Nation Recruiting (@SBNRecruiting) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNRecruiting/status/990612324263301122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BobbyMac]

From the 2019 Master List thread:

per Loy,

Rees will be in to see him.

https://247sports.com/Player/Zach-Calzada-46051591

Who the hell is this?

Under the radar QB that used to be short that has recently had a big growth spurt making him more viable I guess.
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2018/4/30/17300132/zach-calzada-qb-recruit-2019-lanier

So far, the 2019 class of QB recruits seems to be lacking compared to prior years, and especially when compared to the special crop that just graduated in the class of 2018.

The words “so far” are key, because prospects emerge at different times each cycle, for a variety of different reasons.

Take Baker Mayfield, for instance. The No. 1 overall pick was 5’2 as a freshman and only 5’10 as a varsity QB. He kept growing in college and is now listed at 6’1.

Sunday at the Under Armour All-America Game camp in Charlotte, I saw a QB with no star rating throw the heck out of the ball. Winds gusted north of 20MPH, and Zach Calzada, of Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier had no problem driving the football, as the throws of other QBs fluttered.

Calzada threw this ball 51 yards without being able to fully step into it.

Why does Calzada have zero recruiting stars?

“I was 5’10” a little over a year ago, the 6’2.5, 195-pound Calzada said. His dad confirmed, he’s had a huge growth spurt.

And suddenly it made sense. Compared to most top QB prospects, he became good relatively recently.

Quarterbacks no longer have to be 6’5, but 5’10 is short. It makes sense that many haven’t heard of Calzada. With his late growth spurt came arm strength, and Calzada rips the ball. He can also grip it with 10-inch hands.

Schools have very recently started to take notice.

In the last week, Calzada has picked up offers from N.C. State and Northwestern.

“(Offensive coordinator) Eliah Drinkwitz saw me throw and offered,” Calzada said. “I have a good relationship with him. N.C. State was a game changer, they were my first Power 5 offer.”

Calzada said that he likes the way he could fit into the Pack’s offense, and is impressed that NC State has a lot of QBs in the NFL. He visited Saturday and liked the vibe.

This coming week will be big for his recruitment, as Pitt, Northwestern, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Georgia will be swinging by his practice to see him throw. It’s a good bet that he’ll come away with more offers.

Visits are on hold until after spring, and Calzada wants to make sure he is making the right decision. But he is also cognizant that schools want to get their QBs committed early.

“As soon as I find a place I love, I’ll take it,” he said. “QB spots go quickly.”

Another part of that article that was cutoff explains that UNC, UGA, NW, Pitt and ND will be watching him throw this week. Probably the start of the eval process and a good chance for Rees to get his eyes on him.

Barton Simmons take from Elite 11 - Nashville Regional where Calzada was MVP a week ago.
https://247sports.com/Article/An-exciting-weekend-on-the-trail-led-by-the-Buckeyes-117840752

Alpha Dog
Quarterbacks had the toughest job of all on Sunday, throwing a water-logged heavy football and taking more reps than any other position, but every time I saw Buford (Ga.) Lanier quarterback Zach Calzada, he seemed to be in total command. Calzada cut through the rain, spinning the ball effectively and showing really consistent accuracy all day. He recently landed an offer from N.C. State, his first Power Five offer, but Calzada looks capable of landing many more.

 

[BeauBenken]

A little early with the offer tag, no? I took it off because I haven't seen news of an offer.

 

[BobbyMac]

A little early with the offer tag, no? I took it off because I haven't seen news of an offer.

Outside the loop after all these years?

*Copy/Paste/Edit malfunction - THX

 

[BobbyMac]

Loy thinks it's down to Calzada and Mertz at this time.

247sports.cm/college/notre-dame/Article/Notre-Dame-recruiting-2019-quarterbacks-Graham-Mertz-and-Zach-Calzada

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IrishIllustrated?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IrishIllustrated</a> brings its readers the latest on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotreDame</a>’s search for a quarterback in the class of 2019. There seems to be two names to know. <a href="https://t.co/ptkbUIfwc9">https://t.co/ptkbUIfwc9</a> (VIP)<a href="https://twitter.com/247Sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@247Sports</a> <a href="https://t.co/UxtUdbxQdX">pic.twitter.com/UxtUdbxQdX</a></p>— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomLoy247/status/991333111681167360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ab2cmiller]

Since this thread was created, he's received offers from

North Carolina
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Florida Atlantic
USF
West Virginia
Pitt
Colorado St.
Syracuse
Cincinnati

 

[stlnd01]

Are we going to offer here? Or are we afraid if we do, he’ll jump, and we’d rather keep working Mertz?

 

[ab2cmiller]

IMHO. I think no offer to Calzada means we still think Mertz will visit ND and have a decent shot at flipping him.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

Since this thread was created, he's received offers from

North Carolina
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Florida Atlantic
USF
West Virginia
Pitt
Colorado St.
Syracuse
Cincinnati

I guess Kiffin's banking on the kid getting arrested.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Plus, with the wave of sudden offers going to Calzada, we can probably afford to wait a month or so because I doubt Zach will be making a decision anytime soon.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Offered today from
Oklahoma St.
Iowa
Tulane

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Elite11?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Elite11</a> Finals Invite #⃣9⃣:<br><br>Zach Calzada is LA bound!<br>Lanier HS (GA) <a href="https://t.co/X9WknUGypY">pic.twitter.com/X9WknUGypY</a></p>— Elite11 (@Elite11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elite11/status/994683632450076672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[BobbyMac]

Looks like Rees and the staff are spot on after one day of the Elite 11

Biggins and the 247 crew in attendance put Calzada at #2 after the first day in LA.

Mertz was #3 and McNamara was just Honorable Mention (which means he was #12 or #13)

Freebie:

https://247sports.com/ContentGaller...-One-Top-11-Performers-118708100/#118708100_6

No. 2- Zach Calzada, Buford (Ga.) Lanier - Calzada is as a pure a thrower as you’ll see, at least in this environment. Mechanically, he’s very advanced, the ball flies out of his hand and he was able to spin the football consistently through a pretty decent head wind. His arm is very live and he could make all the throws, from the touch passes with great timing to the back shoulder throws as well.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Received an offer from UGA today‼️ <a href="https://t.co/hr7Jp135Ai">pic.twitter.com/hr7Jp135Ai</a></p>— Zach Calzada (@ZachCalzada) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachCalzada/status/1004086858840772608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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That'll be hard to beat.

 

[NDMIA]

Jake Fromm & Justin Fields for the next 3 years. That's not too hard to beat

 

[ab2cmiller]

Loy joining a bunch of other CB's to Texas A&M over the past week.

That's good news for us, one less competitor for Graham Mertz when he flips.

 

[ab2cmiller]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">C O M M I T T E D‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gigem?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gigem</a> &#55357;&#56397;&#55356;&#57340; <a href="https://t.co/VadA2HVftT">pic.twitter.com/VadA2HVftT</a></p>— Zach Calzada (@ZachCalzada) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachCalzada/status/1007383936253689856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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