21 Players in 21 Days: #18 Haynes King & Zach Calzada

Haynes King

Position: Quarterback
Classification: Freshman (RS)
Hometown: Longview, TX
Listed Height: 6-3
Listed Weight: 200

Zach Calzada

Position: Quarterback
Classification: Sophomore (RS)
Hometown: Buford, GA
Listed Height: 6-3
Listed Weight: 205

Key notes from Olin’s analysis of King & Calzada

• I typically don't like lumping two guys into one ranking, but we have absolutely no idea here who will get the starting job. We watched them both play in the spring game and they each had similar outings. Jimbo Fisher has spoken confidently about both of his quarterbacks in King and Calzada. They're not the same quarterback, but Jimbo seems confident with both of them.

• If this team is elite on the field in 2021, whoever is the quarterback would probably shoot into the top 5 in a postseason ranking. Like Charean Williams said earlier; you need a great quarterback play to be elite. 

• I watched Haynes King closely in high school because I covered the Longview Lobos back in the day. I found out he was the fastest guy at Longview when he was in high school. Let me tell you this: If you're the fastest guy at Longview, you're a blazer. I remember watching him as a junior when he took them to state. Oh by the way, that was Longview's first state title since 1939... sound familiar? 

• The competition from what we've heard from Jimbo Fisher is a dead heat, and I believe it off of what I saw in the spring game. They had very similar outings when you look at the output. Again, when he has played, Zach has thrown more than Haynes, but Haynes has rushed more.

• If you made me bet on who would be the starter, just going off of Jimbo Fisher's history at Texas A&M, I'll go with Haynes King because of his mobility. But I can't say that for a fact.

• Who can figure out the right guys to get the ball to, and then get it to them? That's who will be the most successful. This team has a TON of weapons all over the field. What you need more than anything is a QB who can read the defense and understand who the ball should go to, then get it there.

• Texas A&M averaged 32 points per game last year playing an All-SEC schedule. That's, quite frankly, with them not being ready to roll against Vanderbilt. That makes me think this: If you get the quarterback situation settled, combined with all these weapons... just how good can this offense be in 2021 scoring the football?

Follow the entire 21 players in 21 days series here.