New Dawg Report: Caleb Presley
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When Caleb Presley announced his flip from Oregon to Washington on the first day of the early signing period, it sent Husky fans into a frenzy. The cornerback from Rainier Beach became the first No. 1 player from the state of Washington to announce his intentions to stay home since Sav'ell Smalls in the class of 2020.
Ranked as the 215th overall player in the country, Presley is the crown jewel of a very successful first full recruiting class for head coach Kalen DeBoer.
So what made Presley the most sought-after player in the state?
The first things that jump out on tape are Presley's instincts and playmaking ability. He has a very high football IQ and consistently jumps routes before receivers even have a chance to make a break in their route.
"I think he's confident, I think he's competitive," said cornerbacks coach Julius "Juice" Brown after Washington's first spring practice. "That's the one thing I saw when I was able to go watch him live. ... He competes and he loves it, and we're zooming right now in terms of install and he's soaking it all up."
Measuring in at 6-foot and 180 pounds, Presley has the frame to put on more weight and play at it comfortably. He's a sure tackler for a cornerback, but will need to play between 190 and 195 pounds at the college level in order to hang in against some of the bigger receivers and running backs he'll be going toe to toe with.
While Presley might not see the field a lot as a true freshman, crazier things have happened. If he continues to thrive in the install phase before he arrives for spring practice at the end of March, he could see the field earlier than expected.
The Huskies still have major needs in the secondary, and getting the product of Rainier Beach High School on the field early could go a long way on the recruiting trail.
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