Four-Star Top 20 College Football WR Recruit Announces Top 5 Schools

Julian Caldwell remains one of the most highly regarded wide receivers in the 2027 college football recruiting cycle, a fact that is reflected in his getting more than 30 offers from schools in every Power Four conference as he prepares for his decision.

Heading into what should be a consequential choice, the four star Argyle (Tex.) wide receiver has announced his own list of five finalists, including three landmark programs in his home state. Who is in the conversation?

Lone Star State programs are featured

Texas Tech emerged as one of Caldwell’s favorites, sitting on a 2027 class that ranks fourth nationally and first in the Big 12, according to an industry weighted average of recruiting class rankings.

Benny Easter, Jr. remains a Red Raider pledge as the No. 9 wide receiver in the class, as does second ranked quarterback Kavian Bryant, but otherwise Joey McGuire has a strong defensive group led by consensus No. 1 defensive lineman Jalen Brewster.

Caldwell will take a visit to Texas Tech on June 5.

Texas is also in the picture, ranking among the dozen best 2027 recruiting hauls thanks to the commitment of No. 2 wide receiver Easton Royal.

Royal is seriously looking at other programs that are looking to flip him from the Longhorns, as Caldwell is scheduled to be in Austin to meet with Steve Sarkisian’s program on June 19.

Caldwell calls SMU a serious contender, and he has an official visit set up with the Mustangs on May 1.

Marcus Freeman is involved

Notre Dame is squarely in the picture for Caldwell as the program appears to be getting aggressive in targeting wide receivers to what has been a defense-heavy 2027 class.

Irish receivers coach Mike Brown has been throwing out offers to the best wideouts in the country lately, and Caldwell was on campus in South Bend recently as the two sides look to set up an official visit for the future.

“I only think highly of Notre Dame,” Caldwell said of the school.

Big Ten insurgent in the mix

Oregon is yet to secure a wide receiver commitment in 2027, but remains in contention for a few notable targets, including Caldwell, who listed the Ducks among his five.

Caldwell has said nice things about the caliber of wide receiver the Ducks have recruited in recent years, and in particular those from Texas who have gone through Eugene.

Dan Lanning’s program and Caldwell will get a closer look at each other on June 12.

NEWS: Four-Star WR Julian Caldwell is down to 5 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’1 185 WR from Argyle, TX is ranked as a Top 80 Recruit in the ‘27 Class (per Rivals Industry)

Where Should He Go?https://t.co/onrbd9e8Ov pic.twitter.com/W92zrYqDpc
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 2, 2026

What the experts think of him

Recruiting analysts have consistently been high on the wide receiver prospect.

Caldwell is considered the No. 15 player nationally at his position and the No. 89 overall recruit, according to the industry generated 247Sports Composite.

That average marks Caldwell as the No. 11 prospect from the talent rich state of Texas irrespective of position in the 2027 cycle.

Taking an average of the national recruiting services, Caldwell is marked as the No. 16 wide receiver and the 10th best player from the Lone Star State.

How he looks on the field

Caldwell has proven a productive target over his last two varsity seasons.

Over the last 26 appearances for Argyle in Texas, the wide receiver has surpassed 2,000 total yards and saw a notable increase in output last fall from the year prior.

Caldwell has 115 career receptions while averaging 20.2 yards per catch and covering nearly 90 yards per game, according to MaxPreps.

He has 2,318 career receiving yards and saw his per game average jump from 48.4 yards as a sophomore to 124.1 as a junior and has 27 total touchdowns.

Where the projections are leaning

Right now, two main programs in the Lone Star State are favored to get Caldwell’s commitment in 2027, but this remains a very close contest.

Texas Tech has a narrow lead on everyone, with a 29.5 percent chance to earn the wide receiver’s pledge, according to the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Right behind is Texas, sitting in second place with a 22.7 percent likelihood, and SMU is a close third at 14 percent.

Oregon has 11.7 percent odds to get Caldwell in 2027.

As those odds suggest, there remains no strong favorite in the race to sign Caldwell, leaving five contenders firmly in play to make their pitch.