Alabama Signs Versatile 2021 ATH Kadarius Calloway
Philadelphia, Miss. native, 2021 athlete Kadarius Calloway flipped from the Mississippi State Bulldogs to Alabama back in July and, on Wednesday afternoon, he signed off on his national letter of intent to officially become a member of the Crimson Tide.
He is the fourth member of this stellar recruiting class to join by way of flipping. Cornerback Devonta Smith (Ohio State), quarterback Jalen Milroe (Texas), and defensive end Keanu Koht (LSU) are the other three.
Calloway played both sides of the ball at Philadelphia High School, but the 6-foot, 200-pound prospect will play safety when he arrives at the Capstone in the summertime.
Sports Illustrated All-American delves into the Magnolia State's standout game:
Prospect: DB Kadarius Calloway
Projected Position: Safety
Status: SI All-American Candidate
Vitals: 6-foot, 200 pounds
School: Philadelphia (Miss.)
Committed to: Alabama
Frame: Thick neck with somewhat-wide shoulders. Tight and solid torso. Decent bubble and stout legs.
Athleticism: Plays with good functional strength and has a noticeable linear burst. Easy transition from bail-technique to downhill drive to finish underneath. Can press with strength and take a good man turn to pin WR to sideline in coverage. Has speed to stay tucked in semi-trail position while getting around to locate ball in flight. Solid closing quickness to arrive to catch-points with deliberate disruption.
Instincts: Has solid ball skills, which translate over from playing receiver and returning kicks and punts. Shows good judgement, eye-tracking, concentration and high-point ability. Has enough vision to see clear-path alleys versus the run from safety position. Physical and can finish with a big thump on ball carriers, at times.
Polish: Plays boundary corner and field safety in a secondary that features some 2-shell looks. Also contributes as a receiver and in the return game. Can be a tad late to diagnose and trigger downhill to run from safety position. Needs to improve ability to use an arm bar down field and disrupt catch points with appropriate inside hand/arm.
Bottom Line: Calloway has solid all-around athleticism and can play with a good linear burst. His ball skills allow him to factor in coverage, where he turns into a receiver to play the ball. While he needs to refine some subtle nuances of the safety position, Calloway has the skill set to work in the defensive seams in college from either the field or in the boundary.
