Key CB target Marques Caldwell announces commitment to Texas

After picking up a late spring offer from the and spending the recent weeks re-evaluating his recruitment, former Oregon Ducks cornerback pledge Marques Caldwell is now the latest recruit to join head coach Tom Herman’s 2019 class, as he announced his commitment to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.

Caldwell sided with Texas over a top three that also included TCU and Ole Miss.

Committed to Oregon since Oct. 21 before ultimately re-opening his recruitment on June 27, Caldwell finally notched his Texas offer on May 18, and almost immediately, Crystal Ball projections began to roll in anticipating a flip from the Ducks. Even long before Texas became the latest to extend an offer, it was widely reported that if the Longhorns officially jumped into the mix with the Alvin product, it would shake Caldwell’s recruitment up significantly.

On Saturday, those reports and expectations proved true, and the first member of Oregon’s class now becomes the 12th talent to side with Longhorns this cycle, thanks in large part to a late pre-dead period trip to Texas. After missing his originally-scheduled June 13 official visit, Caldwell made in to the Forty Acres on June 23 for an unofficial trip, and various reports indicated that the visit couldn’t have gone any better for the ‘Horns.

That’s now evident, as Caldwell joins four-star California safety Chris Adimora and four-star Georgia product Kenyatta Watson II as the Longhorns defensive back takes thus far this cycle.

A three-star prospect, Caldwell has solid length at 6’1 and utilizes that length to excel in man coverage. With solid footwork and lateral quickness, Caldwell is able to play physically and press at the line of scrimmage and stick with the receiver if they’re able to get into their break.

Beyond his impressive instincts in coverage, which helped earn him all-district second-team honors in 2017, Caldwell is willing and capable of lowering his shoulder and delivering a big hit. He flashes the ability to read and react to plays quickly, and Caldwell can often be seen fighting through blocks — sometimes multiple blocks — in order to make a play on the ball-carrier.

Caldwell is ranked as the nation’s No. 62 cornerback prospect and as the No. 85 player in Texas, per the 247Sports Composite. He totaled 17 tackles, four pass breakups, and two interceptions in seven games as a junior.

With Caldwell committed, the 12-man Longhorns class is now ranked No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12.

• Tyler Johnson — 5-star OT
• Jordan Whittington — 4-star WR
• De’Gabriel Floyd — 4-star OLB
• Jake Smith — 4-star WR
• Kenyatta Watson II — 4-star CB
• Roschon Johnson — 4-star QB
• Chris Adimora — 4-star S
• Brayden Liebrock — 4-star TE
• Peter Mpagi — 3-star WDE
• Marques Caldwell — 3-star CB
• T’Vondre Sweat — 3-star SDE
• Jared Wiley — 3-star TE