Commit Video Breakdown: Grant Calcaterra
The impressive start to Oklahoma’s 2017 recruiting class continued on Thursday night when the Sooners earned the commitment of Rancho Santa Margarita (Cali.) Santa Margarita Catholic three-star athlete Grant Calcaterra.
Calcaterra, who lines up both inside and outside for his high school, will likely be a flex tight end/inside receiver in Lincoln Riley’s offensive system at Oklahoma. Not dissimilar to Mark Andrews’ current role.
The No. 40 player in the state of California is a smooth after the catch, with intuitive spatial awareness, which allows him to pick up extra yards within the trash.
Calcaterra uses a wide catching radius, not only because of his long arms and frame, but because the California standout does a good job consistently using his hands, not his body, to catch the ball. And very rarely does he need to “catch it twice” after a bobble.
The GIF below isn’t anywhere near the longest play from the first-team all-district receiver’s highlight reel, but it’s one of his best. It typifies what he can bring on an every down basis.
Notice the down and distance. It’s a 3rd and short with the corner playing off coverage behind the sticks. Once Calcaterra begins his route and sees the backpedal, he sticks his right foot in the ground exactly a half-yard ahead of the first down marker – showing the necessary presence of mind. After making his break, the ball isn’t quite there yet, so the newest Oklahoma commitment knows he is probably about to take a big hit coming from the middle of the field. Calcaterra, despite this knowledge, resists the urge to alligator-arm it, and extends his arms to secure the catch. Then, maintains control of the football to the ground to keep his team’s drive alive.
And the other great thing about the nation’s No. 40 athlete? If that defender isn’t there to help in the middle, he probably splits the field for a 79-yard touchdown...
Other guys may have more agility or explosion in small spaces, but the 6-foot-4, 210-pound pass-catcher uses subtle movements to manipulate defenders without wasting time. Not a lot of wasted motion. Looks to get up-field and let his straight-line speed take over. He seems to understand his skill-set and maximizes those tools.