Kentucky QB Zach Calzada sorry for video flaunting NIL money - ESPN

Kentucky quarterback Zach Calzada apologized Friday for sending a video to someone on social media in which he boasted about the amount of NIL money he has received from the Wildcats this season.

The video, which was posted to X by a different person, showed Calzada counting a large stack of $100 bills.

Calzada, who turns 25 on Saturday, said he sent the video to someone who had apparently criticized his play this season.

In the video, Calzada tells the fan, «Hey, what you need to do, Garrett, is your ass needs to stop hatin' and go get you some money. But since you ain't got nothing, you go ahead and you can count mine.»

«Let's count,» Calzada said, as he fanned the $100 bills.

«Don't lose count, Garrett,» Calzada continued. «Straight hundreds.»

A Kentucky spokesman told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Friday, «Zach has taken responsibility for his actions. He has done the right thing and apologized. Now, it's time to move forward.»

Calzada, who is playing his seventh season of college football, started the first two games for the Wildcats in 2025. He was ineffective, completing 47.2% of his attempts for 234 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Calzada injured his throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter of a 30-23 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 6.

Freshman Cutter Boley took over and has started the past six games, throwing for 1,376 yards with 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Calzada, from Buford, Georgia, started his career at Texas A&M in 2019. His best season came in 2021, when he replaced injured Haynes King and went 6-4 as the starter. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 285 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Aggies' 41-38 upset of then-No. 1 Alabama on Oct. 9, 2021.

Calzada transferred to Auburn