Auburn football: Why Zach Calzada isn’t projected starter at QB

T.J. Finley is projected to be QB1 for Auburn football next month when the Tigers take Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

This, in spite of his own backup-to-starter story down on the Bayou in 2020 and on the Plains in the last three games of the 2021 campaign going awry compared to Zach Calzada leading a comeback for the ages in College Station this past season.

Finley helped neither LSU nor Auburn get past the respective losses of Max Johnson and Bo Nix the past two seasons. Calzada had Texas A&M finishing right around where they might have ended up had Haynes King stayed healthy. The Aggies were never going to meet the preseason expectations of some projecting a first-place SEC West finish.

So what gives?

Well, Calzada has a shoulder injury that is limiting him ahead of spring practices, giving Finley the de facto advantage:

The Auburn football QB battle is the primary storyline of A-Day

For the past three years, Tiger fans knew that an Auburn legacy QB that came into collegiate athletics as a five-star stud in the state of Alabama was under center. The offense was erratic at times, but there was comfort in the Bo Nix era.

Now, all that exists is unknowns. Like the extent of Finley’s improvement–which he vowed to strive for this offseason following the Birmingham Bowl–and whether or not Robby Ashford is ready for a starting role in year three after two snap-less COVID-19 stricken seasons for the former Oregon Duck.

As for the underclassmen, Dematrius Davis is a similar case to Ashford with one less year of experience overall but with more intimate experience of an offense overseen by Bryan Harsin. Holden Geriner is the greatest of unknowns as a graduating high school senior.

Calzada needs more health for his place among the pack to be determined. There’s plenty of time until September 3rd.