FREE: Calloway enjoys SMU visit

Three-star defensive back Tere Calloway was on the Hilltop for an unofficial visit on Friday

It’s no secret SMU quarterback commit Kolney Cassel and three-star defensive back Tere Calloway speak to each other frequently.

In fact, they consider each other best friends. When Cassel found out Calloway would be visiting SMU on Friday, he immediately started blowing up his buddy’s phone and building up his future home.

So did SMU live up to the hype?

“I definitely believed it did,” Calloway exclaimed. “I really enjoyed my time on campus. The coaching staff was really nice, and it just seemed like a good place to be.”

Defensive coordinator Tom Mason, who has been recruiting Calloway, was supposed to lead the tour but had business to attend to attend to in Idaho. Instead, defensive backs coach Derrick Odum showed one top safeties in the northwest around campus.

But there was a silver lining to the situation. Calloway was able to form a bond with his potential position coach and also had a nice little chat on the phone with Mason during the visit.

“I wasn’t disappointed when I found out he was out of town because it gave me a chance to get to know Coach Odum. I got a chance to meet Coach Mason when he came to Seattle so it really wasn’t too disappointing,” Calloway said. “I actually talked to him while I was on my visit. I talked to him for a while, and he was just saying how excited he was about me coming down to visit and how much that meant to him.

“I really liked spending a lot of one-on-one time with Coach Odum because that was my first time meeting him. I really liked him. He told me a lot about his coaching style and how he likes his DB’s to play. He was really straightforward with me, and I liked that. The big thing I liked that he told me was no matter grade or age, the best player will play.”

The two also discussed where Calloway could fit in on the Hilltop. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder has played not only safety but also cornerback and running back for Seattle Prep (WA).

“He watched my tape and said he loved it and was impressed with my football IQ. He said that I could play either defensive position,” Calloway explained. “Whichever gets me on the field faster is where he wants me to play. He thinks I can be a playmaker at safety and a great cornerback as well.”

When it comes to picking a school, Calloway said academics will also play a big part in his decision and was blown away by what SMU’s Cox School of Business has to offer.

“I really liked the academic part of SMU. I went to the business school and got to talk to a lot of people there, and I was really impressed,” he said. “I liked how everything on campus is really close together. It won’t take me long to get from class to class or practice. It was like its own little town.

“I really liked how the coaches interacted with the players. I really liked that they were making sure they were getting to classes. They really get to know their players. ”

While in Texas, Calloway also had the opportunity to drive to Lubbock for a Texas Tech camp. Although he was hampered by a nagging groin injury, he still posted a 4.53 forty, a 4.2 shuttle and recorded the highest vertical with a 36-inch jump.

“I really loved Texas Tech. I’ve been talking to the coaches for a while so it was nice to finally see the school,” Calloway said. “I didn’t run as fast as I wanted to because of my groin injury, but the coaches said I really impressed them”

Calloway is not done with visits just yet. He has a scheduled trip to Nevada next week and said he could also see Southern Miss and Memphis.

Calloway, who holds close to 15 offers, currently has no favorites and won’t be making a decision until February. But he did have one last thought about SMU after his visit.

“SMU is definitely high on my mind”