Calzada enters transfer portal for second time in career

The transfer portal officially opened Monday morning, and Auburn quarterback Zach Calzada elected to enter it for the second time in his career and leave the Auburn program.

Calzada spent one year with the Tigers after spending the previous three at Texas A&M but never took a snap as the quarterback for Auburn. He never made it above the No. 2 QB on Auburn's roster once the season started.

The Georgia native committed to Auburn in early January when former Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin still controlled the offense. Calzada's commitment came when Austin Davis had been announced as offensive coordinator, but Davis stepped down and left Auburn just one week later.

Calzada missed spring practices, including Auburn's A-Day game, when he arrived at Auburn after undergoing shoulder surgery at the conclusion of his final year at Texas A&M but still appeared, due to his starting experience in the SEC, as a favorite to land the starting job over previous starter T.J. Finley, Oregon transfer Robby Ashford and true freshman Holden Geriner.

Finley and Ashford eventually grabbed the first and second string spots, respectively, and Calzada began the season as the third string QB. Calzada was available throughout the first few weeks of the season, but Harsin announced in early October that the transfer QB would undergo another shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

After Ashford finished the season as Auburn's starting QB for its last nine games, he has seemingly taken grasp of the job for the Tigers after being the sole QB to take snaps in the team's last eight games. Through the two coaching changes, Ashford has only taken off and garnered praise on his athleticism from his coaches.

Calzada's decision comes a week after Auburn officially announced the hiring of Hugh Freeze as its next head coach.