Preseason Watch List: Johnson C. Smith WR Brevin Caldwell

#11 Brevin Caldwell, wide receiver

School: Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls

Class: Sophomore

Measurables: 5-10/160 pounds

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

High School: Ardrey Kell HS

Notes: Raised eyebrows in his first college game with Johnson C. Smith football, catching 11 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-34 overtime loss to Bluefield State. Generated nine first downs in the game. Covered 27 and 8 yards on his touchdown plays. Earned CIAA Rookie of the Week honors after that performance …

Had another monster game the following week against Chowan, catching six passes for 143 yards and two more scores. One of his TDs covered 86 yards (see that highlight HERE – he was untouched the whole play), which tied for the longest play-from-scrimmage in the CIAA a year ago … Crossed the 100-yard plateau in receiving one more time, making nine receptions for 111 yards and a score against Elizabeth City State …

For the season, caught 53 passes for 728 yards and six touchdowns, leading the conference in both total receiving yards and average per game (80.9) … Earned CIAA all-conference and all-rookie honors.

Could be part of a dynamic receiving duo this season, with the Bulls anticipating the return of 2022 preseason all-CIAA pick Reggie Bryant (33 catches, 356 yards, 1 TD despite various injuries a year ago).

“On the outside, it’s all got to start with the guy who was All-CIAA last year, and that’s Brevin Caldwell,” head coach Maurice Flowers told the Charlotte Post back in the spring. “And then you have to go with the guy who was All-CIAA the previous year in Reggie Bryant. [I’m] really looking forward to Reggie having a breakout year in his senior year. … People might have forgotten who he is but he’s going to remind everybody.”

Johnson C. Smith finished with a 2-7 mark a year ago. The Bulls have been picked sixth in the preseason by CIAA coaches, third in the Southern Division behind reigning champion Fayetteville State and Shaw. Johnson C. Smith opens this 2023 season Sept. 2 at West Virginia Wesleyan.

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Eric Lusk started NC Football News in 2023. He's an old newspaper guy with a fondness for underdogs, redemption stories and the triple-option offense. He's a proud graduate of Jesse O. Sanderson High School and UNC's School of Journalism. He's thankful for God's mercy, family and second chances.

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