Interview: 2021 Louisiana DB Caleb Spann is the Best 3-Star 18-Offer Talent You Have Not Heard of Yet
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After years of scouting and watching film, there are certain positive things that instinctively jump out when breaking down tape on a player. When watching Class of 2021 do-it all defender Caleb Spann, he looks like a college player going against high school kids who is so far mentally ahead of everyone else that it is unfair. Aiding his football IQ and technique is his athleticism. At 5-11, 190, Spann has the burst, speed, and hips to cover up top, in the slot, and at corner. He put all of that together on the field during the 2019 season with New Orleans’ John Curtis High School earning MaxPreps All-State honors with 52 stops, seven tackles for a loss, a sack, a QB hurry, a pick, and 10 passes batted away.
Given all that he can do and the caliber of talent he does it against, it is no surprise to see 18 programs have offered Spann thus far. Yet, it still seems like Spann is flying under the proverbial radar. Helping coaches make the big decision on those offers, Spann is the son of a high school coach and is getting it done in the classroom with a 3.71 GPA and a 21 scored on the ACT.
In an RNG first-look, Spann steps inside the RNG Lab for comprehensive interview covering all that he does on the field and his recruiting process off it.
Interview
Caleb, I really like your game and think you do so many things really well. The added feature to all of that is your football IQ. There is a veteran feel, a poise, to watching you work on defense. Where does that come from? Is that experience and training, and/or are you a film hound?
“My dad is a football coach; he coaches at Warren Easton. He got there in 2007-08, and I have been in the film room and on the field with him since then. I was the ball boy until seventh or eighth grade. Over the years I have seen that film study; I am a combo of two. I see the same mistakes over and over, and I have seen the best in the country play on film and in-person. My play is experience mixed with film study.”
It all makes sense, and it shows. One of the other big traits that sets you apart is your speed and burst. How fast are you? Did you get a practice track time in or something like that this offseason?
“We did not have track this year; it was going to be my first year. I was a baseball guy, but I have focused more on football for college. My best 40-yard time is a 4.52, that was at a combine at school and I did it again at a training session right before the virus hit. I still have that on me.”
Because of your versatility, knowledge, and speed, you were able to play multiple roles on the Patriots defense in 2019. Where all did you line up a year ago?
(Laughs) “Yes, I lined up at strong safety as my primary position, but if we faced more of a Spread team with trips, we were in a 4-2 base, I would drop down to linebacker to check the slot. If we were in the lead, I am at linebacker, depending on the style of offense, and I also played high safety if they had a deep threat receiver.
“Sometimes I lined up at corner. Last season I finished up against Holy Cross at corner. If the other team had a good X or Y lined up to go deep, I was on him. And I would blitz off edge, kind of an end hybrid role. On some plays it was considered an end; I see it as a blitzing safety. Wherever their best player is, I am in that area. Last season I also played a little bit on offense.”
Impressive. As mentioned, game film shows you guys were mixing it up on defense depending on the team you were playing. Drilling deeper from the last question and response, what were some of the coverages and fronts you guys were running last season?
“We ran 4-2, that was our base scheme, but in late game situations, if they were down, we’d go into a 3-3. Then I played some outside linebacker, especially against a run-heavy team I would come down. Our regular coverage was a Cover 2.”
Once the season ended, what did you feel were the overall strengths to your game on defense?
“I feel that I was one of the better open-field tacklers in the state. I showed that skill off in the beginning of the season, towards the end the ball was going the other way. Five-yard gains on my side, that is disrespect. I take pride in open-field tackling. I can line up on the best player on their team and nearly shut that guy down. When we played Jesuit, I was in man with their best; he had two catches overall in two games. I am a lockdown corner, and I can check the slot. If you are producing, I line up on you and do what I do.”
You were able to showcase your speed and athleticism on special teams during your junior run, are you taking on those same roles in 2020? Will we see you on offense more this year?
“Yes. I am not playing a lot of receiver this season, I will be more at running back. We are a run-heavy team. We have a lot of new guys coming in, I am taking that veteran lead with that. This season I am playing a lot of special teams. I will be on kick and punt return, and I will be on kickoff and punt teams. Kickoff is most important because you can pin the opponent inside the 20. Most high school teams cannot drive 80 yards for a touchdown.”
Throughout the offseason, what have you been working on in preparation for your senior season?
“My preparation is staying in shape, because I rarely come out of that game – that is an honor. Being in shape is important. My strength has picked up tremendously this offseason. I feel that I have made a big jump, I added 10 pounds. Jumping up to 190 pounds has helped. I lift with the linebackers, not the defensive backs. That extra strength helps being physical at the line, running the ball, and with open-field tackling.
“This offseason I have also been working more on being a lockdown corner. There are a lot of fantastic receivers in Louisiana. We always face good ones. I have been working on being a one-on-one corner instead of needing help.”
Let’s jump into recruiting. Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?
“I hear some from Arkansas State, some from Mississippi State, and Kentucky – they come and go with text and phone calls. I have not heard from Mississippi State in a while. Arkansas State is showing the most interest.”
How many offers do you have?
“I have 18 offers.”
Wow. That makes sense but I did not know you had that many. Which programs were the last couple to offer?
“The last four were Central Michigan, Army, Air Force, and Georgetown.”
Spann’s Offer Sheet: Air Force, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Army, Central Michigan, Dartmouth, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Georgetown, Grambling, Lamar, McNeese State, Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State, Nicholls State, South Alabama, Southern University, and Tulane
Going back to last season, did you get to take any unofficial visits?
“Yes, I took two unofficial visits, one to Duke and one to Tulane.”
How did the Duke visit go?
“It was a really good experience. I had never been to North Carolina before. We watched some film of previous games and went to a basketball game. I saw the Cameron Crazies, they were loud and active. I liked the atmosphere there. I had a good time. The whole top balcony is filled with 30-plus year ticket holders.”
And the Tulane visit?
“When we got on campus, we got there the night before, we had dinner with the coaches at a restaurant near the campus. We talked with all the coaches; this was in the middle of basketball season and I was in basketball season. I missed a couple of practices, my coach said it was okay, and the Tulane coaches were happy that I was there. I was happy they knew who I was. The second day we went on campus, they showed me around the facilities, went into meetings, saw the weight room and locker room, and watched film on what they do. We also did a photo shoot and then went to the game. That visit is a really good memory. I enjoyed the coaching staff. They have the best intentions with me, I am grateful.”
When campuses open back up, do you have any planned visits official or unofficial you may take?
“Yes. I hear from a lot of the coaches that offered me, about once a week, wanting me to come visit when I can. Army, one of my teammates is going there, he wants me to see the Oklahoma game this year. Hopefully I can go. Army, I’d like to take an Air Force visit, and I can drive to all the Louisiana schools – Grambling and Southern. Georgetown wants me to come, Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. The Ivy League does not give scholarships. Another school is Vanderbilt, they are texting me and showing interest.”
Very cool. With your senior season fast approaching, have you started thinking about a commitment date?
“Somewhere around Week 4 or 5 to get it out of the way and focus on winning a state championship. I’m not thinking about it too hard now. I have an idea where I want to visit to see the real. I have been focusing on me this summer. I want to be around 200 by the season and continued to be focused on playing football. I have a lot to prove in the state of Louisiana with football. This summer I am working on improving my skill set.”
Before I let you go, let’s run down all the varsity sports you play or have played. If you will…
“Basketball, baseball, and football – my freshman year I was doing it all. I played varsity basketball and football, and JV in baseball. This year in basketball, I played towards the end of the season. I did that more to stay in shape; that is for fun. Corona cancelled baseball, and with track, this was to be my first year.”
Caleb, it was a whole lot of fun running down all of these topics of interest today. I appreciate your time and wish you and the Patriots success this summer preparing for the 2020 season.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Spann family; Caleb Spann at Duke and Tulane