Husky Roster Review: Presley Gets Initiated, Humbled Some in Spring Debut

Caleb Presley learned fairly quickly that all of those recruiting rankings and schools telling him how great he is disappear once the pads come on.

Joining the University of Washington football team early for a dozen spring practices, the touted cornerback — the first big-name local player to join Kalen DeBoer's program — looked a little bewildered on his first day.

Coaches shouted out his name, pulling him in different directions amid the fast-paced workouts. He had to think about the new technique rather than just get out and run.

Inserted in 11-on-11 segments for the first time a few practices later, Presley got beat on a deep route by walk-on wide receiver Mason Wheeler, then on another by Michigan State transfer Germie Bernard.

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It was a little humbling. He was just one of the guys, rather than the guy. Nobody cared how many stars he had on his recruiting profile.

The good news is the 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back from the Greater Seattle area's Rainier Beach and Eastside Catholic high schools got all of that maddening initiation stuff out of the way and can now concentrate on climbing the depth chart.

Going down the roster from No. 0 to 99, Presley, in jersey No. 2 on defense, is next up in a series of profiles about each of the Huskies' scholarship players and assorted walk-ons, where we sum up their spring football performances and surmise what might come next for them.

Caleb Presley receives direction from corners coach Julius "Juice" Brown during the final spring football scrimmage held at Husky Stadium.

Freshman Caleb Presley inherited a UW number previously worn by All-Pac-12 cornerback Kyler Gordon, now with the Chicago Bears.

Caleb Presley, shortly after reporting for Husky spring football, draws a handshake from assistant strength coach A.J. Middleton.

Arriving early for Husky spring football, Caleb Presley took part in a dozen practices when he otherwise would have been finishing up his senior year at Rainier Beach High.

Caleb Presley draws the long gaze of cornerbacks coach Juice Brown as he prepares to go through a drill that stresses using his hands in coverage.

Caleb Presley readies for a cornerback drill on his first day of University of Washington spring football practice with Juice Brown nearby.

Caleb Presley (2) and the rest of the Husky cornerback contingent listen intently to their position coach Julius "Juice" Brown.

Caleb Presley enjoys himself with a young relative on his recruiting trip to the University of Washington, where he pulled on a Husky uniform.

Of the Huskies' most recent NFL-bound cornerbacks of Trent McDuffie, Kyler Gordon, Elijah Molden, Keith Taylor, Byron Murphy and Kevin King, most came ready to play right away. Only Murphy sat out his entire freshman campaign as a redshirt. Gordon played in four games before redshirting. On the other hand, McDuffie needed just two games to become a Husky starter.

It's a position that carries enormous responsibility and the UW previously was fortunate to bring in a lot of ready-to-play corners.

Last season was the difficult exception as the Huskies found themselves significantly shorthanded once McDuffie and Gordon were drafted among the the top 39 NFL picks, then-sophomore Jacobe Covington transferred to USC and became a part-time starter, redshirt freshmen Davon Banks was lost with a season-ending injury and redshirt freshman Elijah Jackson was hobbled much of the season.

Presley is part of the position restock, as one of three freshmen signed along with Louisiana's Curley Reed and Californian Leroy Bryant, who will report this summer, and as one of five new faces overall when figuring in transfers Muhammad and Dixon.

By the time fall camp rolls around, Presley should find a certain comfort level, see how much he can move up the UW depth chart and then work his way onto the field on Saturdays.

Playing right away has been tradition for Husky cornerbacks — there's no reason Presley can't uphold his end.

CALEB PRESLEY FILE

Service: Presley comes to the UW after playing two seasons of high school football at Rainier Beach and two more at Eastside Catholic in the Seattle area, starting all four years. He was considered the top player in Washington state from the Class of 2023. He was originally committed to Oregon but flipped right before the signing deadline in December.

Stats: N/A.

Role: Presley emerged from spring football behind projected Husky starters Jabbar Muhammad and Elijah Jackson and back-ups Thaddeus Dixon and Jaivion Green. He's still learning the playbook. For now, he's a third-teamer. He's one of three freshman corners, the first to arrive, and likely will be eased into game action this fall.

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