KJ Caldwell earned second-team All-Region defensive honors as a sophomore at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. His defensive back MVP honors at the 2024 Under Armour Next Camp highlighted elite ball skills and athleticism that transcend his early high school production.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound safety is a top young player. He has good speed and instincts, earning a four-star rating and a spot in the top 100 for the class of 2027. He holds a 94 ranking nationally and ranks No. 8 at safety and No. 13 in Georgia, according to the latest Rivals industry rankings, with 30-plus scholarship offers from Power Four programs.
Now Caldwell has set his commitment date. The Georgia native will announce his college decision on April 3, according to Rivals director of recruiting Chad Simmons. His finalists are the Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes, Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores and NC State Wolfpack.
Throughout his recruitment process, he has also drawn significant interest from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Texas A&M Aggies, Syracuse Orange, Nebraska Cornhuskers and Wisconsin Badgers.
Caldwell wants to make a decision early and enroll in time for summer workouts. He has been methodical in his recruitment, taking multiple unofficial visits and planning spring trips to narrow his options. In early February, it seemed like liked Georgia Tech, but the Jackets got cut from the final five.
Right now, Miami is in a strong position. Caldwell plans to visit Coral Gables from March 26–29 to attend spring practices. He also has an official visit scheduled with Miami on June 12.
Georgia and Tennessee are still in the mix. Caldwell visited Tennessee in June and said he liked the family atmosphere the coaches emphasized during his trip.
The irony? Bulldogs hold an advantage as the state’s flagship program, while Georgia Tech, located less than an hour from Parkview High, is not on his priority list.