Johnson C. Smith junior receiver Brevin Caldwell leads NCAA Division II in touchdown catches and is tied for fifth nationally in receiving yards after two weeks of games.
Caldwell, who played at Charlotte’s Independence High, has snagged five touchdown passes for the Golden Bulls in victories over Tuskegee and Morehouse. Only two other receivers from D2 also have five TD catches, Brice Peters from Bemidji State and Reggie Retzlaff from CSU Pueblo.
Caldwell has made 16 catches on the season for 230 total yards. Retzlaff leads the D2 yardage category with 18 receptions for 405 yards. Caldwell is just two yards shy of being tied for third on the D2 list — an impressive start for the preseason All-CIAA wideout.
The combination of Darius Ocean-to-Caldwell has been potent for Johnson C. Smith thus far. The two connected for three touchdowns in the 37-13 rout of Morehouse. The first TD covered eight yards and the next two covered 27. Caldwell finished with nine catches on the day for 140 yards. His longest reception turned into a 43-yard play.
Caldwell became the second receiver in our state to have a three-touchdown game. He joins NC State’s KC Concepcion, who hauled in a trio of scoring passes in the Wolfpack’s opener against Western Carolina.
Ten receivers from North Carolina teams crossed the 100-yard plateau in catches this week. Here are details on each:
* Donavon Greene (Wake Forest, FBS) had a standout performance in Wake Forest’s narrow 31-30 loss to Virginia, hauling in 11 receptions for 166 yards and one touchdown. Greene’s longest catch went for 31 yards, and he averaged 15.1 yards per reception.
* Jayden Flood-Brown (Barton, D2) led the Bulldogs with nine receptions for 140 yards in their loss to West Virginia State. His longest catch of the day was 36 yards, and he averaged 15.6 yards per catch, showcasing his ability to stretch the field despite not finding the end zone.
* Jordan Moore (Duke, FBS) helped the Blue Devils edge Northwestern 26-20 in overtime, grabbing 11 receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown. Moore’s longest catch was 25 yards, and he averaged 11.0 yards per reception.
* Jairus Mack (Charlotte, FBS) sparked Charlotte in the 49ers’ 38-20 loss to North Carolina, recording 5 receptions for 118 yards, including a 40-yard catch. Mack averaged 23.6 yards per reception.
* David Baros (Fayetteville State, D2) played a key role in Fayetteville State’s 35-31 win over UNC Pembroke with 6 catches for 116 yards. His longest catch went for 37 yards, and he averaged 19.3 yards per reception.
* Onuma Dieke (Elon, FCS) contributed 6 receptions for 109 yards in Elon’s 41-19 win over North Carolina Central. His longest catch of 41 yards highlighted his ability to create big plays, and he averaged 18.2 yards per catch.
* Songa Yates (Lenoir-Rhyne, D2) was instrumental in Lenoir-Rhyne’s 32-19 win over Bowie State, catching 5 passes for 109 yards. His longest reception was 44 yards, and he averaged 21.8 yards per catch, showcasing his ability to break off explosive plays.
* Sincere Brown (Campbell, FCS) was a deep threat in Campbell’s 24-16 win over Western Carolina, recording 4 receptions for 108 yards. Brown, who is ranked 10th nationally in FCS receptions (9 catches for 234 yards after two games), averaged 27.0 yards per catch on Saturday, with a longest reception of 20 yards.
* Joaquin Davis (North Carolina Central, FCS) was a bright spot in North Carolina Central’s 41-19 loss to Elon, recording 4 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. His longest catch went for 39 yards, and he averaged 25.3 yards per reception, making him a reliable deep-ball target.
* Though they didn’t reach 100 receiving yards this week, Shaw’s Ah’shaan Belcher and Maceo Wingate deserve recognition. Wingate made four catches for 99 yards and a score in the Bears’ upset at Albany State. Belcher hauled in the game-winning TD reception with eight seconds left, capping a six-catch, 91-yard, two-score day.
