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The Florida Gators’ all-time leading receiver talks about running a 4.37 40-yard dash and his experience at the NFL Combine. Caldwell also looks back at his Senior Bowl performance and his days in Gainesville wearing the Orange and Blue.
* The all-time leading receiver in University of Florida history, finishing his career as a Gator with 181 receptions.
* Andre was a key member of the 2007 Championship team, scoring a third quarter touchdown against Ohio St. to help put the Buckeyes away.
* He finished his college career on a high note, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a reverse to give the South the win in the Senior Bowl.
* Most recently, he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash…the second best time among the wideouts at the NFL Combine.
DBD: Tell us about that forty time (4.37)…that must have made your week.
Caldwell: Yeah. I trained so hard for about six or seven weeks. I have natural ability God blessed me with and I just went out there and gave it everything I had and I was very satisfied with it.
DBD: You ran track in 2007, competing at SEC Outdoor Championships (100 meters). Did that help you?
Caldwell: Yeah that helped me a lot. That showed me how to run and what techniques to use to run faster. We also had a great coach on the track team that taught me a lot of things, so that wasn’t that hard going through that process because I already knew how to run it.
DBD: What was the Combine experience like?
Caldwell: It was a great week out there. We did a lot of medical stuff behind the scenes that people don’t know about that isn’t so fun, like taking a lot of psychological tests and just going through physicals and people pulling everybody part and every little injury you have had. But that last day is a fun day to go out and compete and show the scouts what you have, and also it’s a long interview process. I probably met with all 32 teams and just met with them and let them know what type of person I am and what I can bring to their team and how can I help them win ball games.
DBD: Did any specific teams show more interest than others?
Caldwell: Yeah, there were certain teams, the Vikings, Buffalo, Kansas City…some of the teams that need a big play receiver to come in and play immediately showed some extra interest, so I wanted to come in and present myself the best that I can.
DBD: What was the most common question teams had?
Caldwell: All of them asked me what can I bring to their team, and I answered that with my playmaking ability, I can stretch the field and just be a big threat on the field and score touchdowns and help them win games.
DBD: What was the strangest question asked of you?
Caldwell: There were no off the wall questions. Mainly just stuff about your character and how you play the game of football, so it was very straightforward.
DBD: What was the most difficult thing to deal with?
Caldwell: There were some things, such as waiting around all day in the hospital waiting to get your medical work done…that was the hardest thing, sitting there for six or seven hours and just doing nothing and looking at the wall.
DBD: So it must have been a relief to hit the field?
Caldwell: Yeah it was a relief, it is a relief to go out there and have an opportunity to go out there and show off your talent, because you work so hard for it and just can’t wait to get there.
DBD: In general, do you feel you accomplished what the game plan was going into Indianapolis?
Caldwell: Yeah I think I reached all of my goals. I competed at a high level and reached my 40 time, and did good on the quickness drills. I think I was top in everything I did so I really can’t complain. I am just trying to show the scouts why they should draft me and why I should be ahead of some of those other guys.
DBD: I’m going to put you on the spot a little bit…tell us what separates you from the other receivers in what I believe is a very deep class
Caldwell: Some of the other guys did some great things, some other guys ran some great 40’s and caught the ball very well, but I see myself as right up there with those guys and even ahead of those guys. I hope I opened up eyes, and they see me in the same way and pick me ahead of those people.
DBD: I’ll give you a specific guy. DeSean Jackson, the only guy who ran a better 40-time than you, but you checked in at around 30 pounds heavier. So, if a team was picking between the two of you, tell us why you’d be the better pro…
Caldwell: Yeah I think my size and his size is a difference, but he is a great player and I think that I am a great player also. So some might like him more than me and others like me more then him. I think that it’s a little harder at my size doing it [running the 40] than him at his size.
DBD: Tell us about that game-winning play in the Senior Bowl, you had to really fight for that final yard…
Caldwell: Yeah that was tough. When I heard the play I was excited and I knew I had to get into the end zone and not let the team down. When I got the ball I thought it was going to be a walk in the park, but I had two defenders there and I wasn’t going to be denied and needed to score a touchdown, and I did that.
DBD: Which quarterback impressed you the most there?
Caldwell: All of those guys did a great job, but I was impressed with (Joe) Flacco from Delaware. I have never seen him play since he is from a smaller school, but his arm strength and playmaking ability was great, and I see him being very successful.
DBD: Was it strange playing and practicing with rivals like Andre’ Woodson and Erik Ainge?
Caldwell: Yeah it was pretty strange, because when I see those guys playing on game day I hope they get sacked and throw interceptions, so just going out there and cheering for them and them throwing me passes, and everything went well and we bonded good, and we did great things out there.
DBD: Which defender that you have gone up against has been the most impressive in practice during the week and in the game?
Caldwell: Guys like (Dominique) Cromartie from TSU did a great job. He is a big, strong, physical cornerback and did a great job. (Leodis) McKelvin also did a great job of just knocking the ball down.
DBD: It’s funny that you keep mentioning guys from smaller schools...
Caldwell: I know, but there are great schools all over the world. Just because you are from a small school, you could still be that quality of a player. So it’s a surprise, but it wasn’t really too much of a surprise because I know there is talent everywhere and that is proof right there, with those guys.
DBD: So having seen a guy like Cromartie, I guess you weren’t surprised by his performance?
Caldwell: No, after going against him for a whole week in practice, I had a good feeling he would do great things out there and increase his stock.
DBD: Which guys in the SEC impressed you throughout the year?
Caldwell: There were a lot of great teams out there. Kentucky did a great job this year…they came on strong and surprised a lot of people. They have some great athletes out there, so just to see a team like Kentucky step up to the plate makes the SEC a lot more competitive, and LSU is doing the same thing every year and have a great team. So teams like that just keep getting better and better every year and add more and more talent.
DBD: How much has your brother, Reche, helped you throughout your career?
Caldwell: I think that it was very helpful, and I got a heads-up on a lot of those other players and what to look for and what to expect. The biggest thing is to stick with what got you here and just be yourself, so I think he helped me throughout the whole process.
DBD: Tell us about Coach Meyer?
Caldwell: It was great. If you are a playmaker, you will love it because you will keep getting the ball. He was just a great coach and I loved it. I kept getting better every week.
DBD: How about playing with Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, a couple of super sophomores?
Caldwell: Tebow was a great quarterback and a great guy on and off the field. He is a real competitor who doesn’t like to lose and will give you everything they have in practice and on the game field, so you always could depend on him. Percy Harvin is one of the fastest kids I have ever seen. He can change directions and speed in a second, so he really is a great player and very competitive. He’s a player who just goes out there and makes plays. He’s also a real humble and down to earth guy.
DBD: You were a high school QB…how much would you have enjoyed running Meyer’s offense?
Caldwell: Yeah I know it would be great. I always think about it, I tell people at home that I am a quarterback at heart, but just play receiver right now. So I always wonder that if a guy like me and my speed could get back there and run that offense it would be fun, but the people out there do a great job and I always will wonder about it.
DBD: Is it even close what the highlight of your college career was?
Caldwell: There is no doubt, it’s the National Championship. That is your goal and dream going into college, so that is the highlight of everything I have done there.
DBD: Was breaking your leg versus Tennessee in 2005 the low point?
Caldwell: Yeah that was the low point, when I broke my leg. I had some friends, family, and teammates to help keep my spirits up and they kept me going and moving forward everyday.
DBD: After suffering an injury this year you bounced back strong with the best three game stretch of your career--9 catches versus Vandy, 11 vs. South Carolina, and 13 versus Florida Atlantic for 415 yards. Did you feel the urgency as your career was nearing its end?
Caldwell: Yeah it was coming down to a breaking point, and I was closing down on my career and I knew if I was to be highly drafted I had to go out there and make plays, so it was a rush for me to go out there and give everything I’ve got. It felt good to make plays and help the team win, so it was a last-minute-give-everything-you’ve-got-or-become-a-late-draft-pick kind of thing.
DBD: Growing up who was your favorite player?
Caldwell: Yeah, I always watched Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice and big playmakers like that. Deion was always my all time favorite playmaker growing up. I used to watch everything he did, and wanted to be just like him, and then my brother making plays as well.
DBD: I got to ask about the name Bubba…
Caldwell: When I was little my brother used to call me that because I was a little fat kid, and that was a little fat name and it’s just stayed with me all of my life and never changed even though I am skinny now. But I was a little fat baby.
DBD: Where do you go from here?
Caldwell: Just going to keep working out everyday and improving running routes, catching footballs and keep working hard in the weight room. Other than that, it is going to be a waiting process till the draft.
DBD: Are you going to be participating at the Pro Day?
Caldwell: I am not sure yet. I need to talk to my agents and get some feedback on what the teams think I need to work on for my pro day, but if nothing comes up then I won’t be doing anything.
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