Rivals200 safety KJ Caldwell recaps visit with Kirby Smart, where Georgia stands

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart recently stopped by Parkview High School in Lilburn to see four-star safety KJ Caldwell.

During the visit, Caldwell and Smart discussed his personal life. The Rivals200 prospect is originally from Columbus and would have attended Carver High School if he hadn’t moved to Gwinnett County, and Smart was familiar with several of his family members from “The Fountain City.”

“(Coach Smart) asked where we were from, and I told him I was from Columbus,” Caldwell told UGASports after the visit. “He asked when I moved up here, and I said when I was around four or five. We talked about how my parents graduated from Carver in Columbus, because he asked which school I would’ve been zoned for if I was still there. Then he asked if I knew Coach Wallace Davis, and I told him that’s my cousin. He said he used to play against him all the time and went to UGA with his son, Ryan, who’s also my cousin. We ended up having a good conversation about all of that.”

Caldwell appreciated the personal connection Smart established, as it showed him that the two-time national championship–winning head coach cares about him as a person, not just as a player.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound 2027 safety prospect already feels like a “priority” for the Bulldogs, but that conversation made him feel even more valued.

 “It made me feel like I’m wanted by that school, you know? And I really feel like UGA wants me,” Caldwell said. “That’s something really special, because not a lot of players and coaches have that type of relationship where they can truly relate to each other. Having that kind of connection with a coach is something that can go a long way — even beyond football.”

Caldwell’s thoughts on Georgia as a program

Caldwell was in Athens when Georgia hosted Alabama this past season.

He was taking notes on how the Bulldogs constantly rotated defensive backs to keep their legs fresh and how physical the group was.

“They play really physical and smart. That’s one thing I noticed — they’re always physical, they always run to the ball, and they’re very intelligent. I feel like Coach Donte (Williams) and Coach T-Rob (Travaris Robinson) are doing their job.”

Georgia is recruiting him primarily as a safety, and Caldwell closely watched KJ Bolden during the game against Alabama. He’s familiar with the Bulldog defensive back, who is also from Gwinnett County.

“KJ Bolden is the one I watched the most — not just because he’s from around here, but because of how he plays,” Caldwell said. “He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and I feel like I play the same way. I can really relate to his playing style.”

Caldwell said Georgia is among his top schools, and the visit with Smart helped.

“I feel like the one thing they can do to really separate themselves is just continuing to show and embrace that family culture I’m looking for,” Caldwell said. “It’s not that they don’t have it — they definitely do — but really embracing me and enhancing that.”

Another factor helping Georgia’s case is hearing how much his former teammate, Cortez Smith, is enjoying life in Athens.

Smith just finished his first season at Georgia.

“I’ve talked to him a good amount. I talked to him as soon as he got up there, and he told me the workouts were hard, but it’s a great place,” Caldwell said. “I talked to him again a couple of weeks ago and whenever he comes back, so I still have a great relationship with him. I played with him for about two years.”

Is a possible commitment coming soon?

Smith doesn’t have a date set yet, but told UGASports he will make a commitment before the end of February.

He said Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and a few other schools are high on his list.

“It’s been a little hectic,” Caldwell said of his recruitment. “A lot of coaches have been coming by the school every day and pulling me out of class. It’s been something, but a few schools have really caught my eye. I’m really high on Miami, Georgia, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt — those are just a few. … I don’t have a yet commitment date, but it’s going to be before the end of February.”