Jeremy Caldwell 5'9" 183
CB/KR, Eastern Kentucky
Rankings: 70th-ranked cornerback by Pro Football Weekly. Graded as a player who should make an NFL training camp.
NFLDraftScout: 80th-ranked CB, free agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2011: First team all-Ohio Valley as a returner, second team as a defensive back. Third team AP Division 1-AA All-American. Buck Buchanan Award finalist. Won College Football Performance Award for Elite Kick Returner. Four-year starter. Played in 12 games with 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Averaged 23.7 yards on 30 kickoff returns, with an 88-yard TD, and 5.5 yards on 14 punt returns. Also had 4 receptions for 26 yards.
2010: First team all-Ohio Valley. Played in 11 games, starting 8. 32 tackles, 3 interceptions, returning one for TD, 4 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Was second in the nation with a school-record 33.7 yard average on 14 kickoff returns, with 2 TD and averaged 15 yards on 13 punt returns with another TD.
2009: First team all-Ohio Valley. Played in 10 games, starting 8. 48 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and a sack. Was fourth in the nation, and led Ohio Valley Conference, with 7 interceptions, returning one for TD, 6 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. Averaged 24.5 yards on 24 kickoff returns, 9.8 yards on 16 punt returns.
2008: Played in 12 games, starting 10. 58 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, returning one for TD, 6 pass breakups, one forced fumble and 3 fumble recoveries. Returned 21 kickoffs for a 23.1-yard average and 8 punts for and 11.0-yard average.
2007: Appeared in two games without statistics, then was redshirted.
Major: not listed.
Injuries:
2010: missed most of first game of season due to offseason sports hernia surgery.
2009: missed one game due to concussion.
Pro day stats: (NFL Combine averages for CBs in parentheses)
4.45 40 (Janoris Jenkins was 6th-fastest CB at the Combine at 4.46. CB average was 4.57)
1.54 10-yard split (1.55)
34” vertical jump (34.5”)
10'1" broad jump (9'11.5")
7.28 3-cone drill (Only one CB at the Combine had a worse time. Average was 6.87. Morris Claiborne only ran 7.01, though.)
4.19 20-yard shuttle (4.12)
DNP bench press (15)
Positives: Athletic, game-changing return specialist who also has shutdown ability as a cornerback. Plays faster than his already-fast 40 time. Opposing QBs consistently threw away from him. Has superb closing speed, excellent suddenness, superb burst to the ball. Excellent nose for the ball, knows where the QB is going to throw. Reads QBs exceptionally well. Has better field awareness and runs better routes than many of the receivers he covers. Excellent defending screens and quick out routes, which is how he made many of his interceptions. Is cat-quick to shut down short catches in front of him and arrives in a bad, powerful mood. Has no trouble staying with receivers downfield or staying with the receiver out of his break. Turns and runs well in press coverage. Looks comfortable in man and zone coverages. Anticipates well and plays the ball well in the air. Takes balls away from larger receivers. Had two picks against Indiana and a pick-six against Louisville. Good effort tackler on the edge. Solid hitter. Good vision, speed, elusiveness and cutback ability as a kick returner. Uses his blockers well. Excellent, instinctive player who was a man among boys at his level of competition. Pro potential on special teams and as a dime back.
Negatives: Does not have a quick or fluid backpedal. Poor tackling technique; doesn't keep his head up. Relies too much on his speed and is likely to get caught gambling at the next level. Pretty much disappeared against Kansas State, so he could really be a small-school wonder.
Compares to: Dre Bly.
Fun Facts: The funnest facts I could find about Jeremy are that his first job was working the grill at a Wendy's, and that his nickname since childhood is “Ta Ta”, which rhymes with “Say Hey”. No info where that nickname came from, though.
RamView: The NFL must truly be a talented league if there are really 70 or 80 rookie cornerbacks out there better than Jeremy Caldwell, because the kid can flatout play. He wouldn't have needed 11 season-ending injuries in the secondary to make last year's Rams team, and he certainly would have made that roster as a kick returner. He shows playmaking ability and natural ability as a defensive back and a returner that Rams squads of recent seasons have badly lacked. The new Rams regime's free agency and draft have made it a lot tougher to land a job in the secondary this season, but returner jobs should be wide open, and I hope Caldwell gets a shot at one. I'm no doubt higher on his prospects than most, but the Rams may have dug up a diamond in the rough here. Caldwell's too talented not to at least make a team's practice squad. Maybe even this one.
Chance of making roster: 40%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly, NFLDraftScout, Eastern Kentucky University athletics, STATS LLC, Chattanooga Times Free Press, DraftInsider.net, YouTube
Photo: Eastern Kentucky University
No comments:
Post a Comment