New Aggies QB

Before Texas A&M opens SEC play against Arkansas next week, sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada will make his first start for the Aggies when they host New Mexico on Saturday.

Calzada is taking over as the starter because Haynes King underwent surgery Sunday to repair a broken bone in his right leg after being injured against Colorado.

The Aggies struggled on offense without King, but Calzada connected with Isaiah Spiller on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 2:41 left to rally Texas A&M to a 10-7 victory in Denver.

“I’m not a doctor and I’m not going to say when,” Fisher said this week about when King might be able to play again. “When you heal, you heal. When you’re healed, you’re healed and we would never play him in any way, shape or form before that.”

Calzada completed 18 of 38 passes for 183 yards without an interception and rushed 4 times for 28 yards against the Buffaloes.

“Hopefully, he’ll have a really good outing,” Fisher said of Calzada starting against New Mexico. “We need to play well around him and need to take care of him and allow him to do his thing and play his game.

“I think he’s very knowledgeable of what we do. He can reach all parts of the field with his arm. He can throw the football anywhere. He’s very accurate.

“At the the same time, he’s very good athlete. … He had a couple really nice scrambles [against Colorado]. He can create plays with his legs.”