Name: Caleb Peart
School: Vanderbilt
Position: LB
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 235
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
Prior to my senior season, I had played the past three years as an outside linebacker in our 3-4 defense. During fall camp of this last year, I was asked by my defensive coaching staff to learn and make the transition to play inside linebacker. At that time, we had several injuries and remained very young at that position, and they felt as though I could bring leadership and experience to the inside linebacker position group. Moving to a new position, my goals for the 2019 season included proving that I could learn and adapt quickly, showcasing my abilities to play in space, and leading by example. I believe that I accomplished each of those goals this past season; however, I am most proud of my leadership. With few wins to speak to the amount of work that we as a team dedicated in the offseason, I believe I successfully maintained a poised and optimistic mindset that became infectious to my teammates.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
Looking back, it is funny to talk about, but the nickname that was given to me by my teammates and coaches was “Captain Violence.” Although it began due to my love for contact and violent collisions, the nickname grew and expanded to mean a plethora of qualities that many saw me demonstrate. “Captain Violence” no longer just described a hard hitting linebacker, but now also meant one who was invested in the details, finished first in team conditioning, and did the right things on and off the field.
Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?
I was very blessed to have such an amazing defensive coaching staff at Vanderbilt that truly invested in their players, showing us the right way to go about film study. At the beginning of a game week, I watch my opponents’ game from the previous week in its entirety. There I was able to gather an overall sense of their tendencies that you just cannot get from solely watching player cutups. As the week progresses, I look at O-line cutups for run/pass keys, QB cutups for cadence and snap count and anything else I can gather. As it gets closer to gameday, I watch film of my opponents using our defensive call sheet so I can visualize myself making plays.
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
I am a selfless player that is willing to do whatever it takes to make it on a team’s rosters. Whether that be playing linebacker, being a four-phased special teams’ player, or even learning a new position on offense such as fullback, I am not afraid of new challenges, and I have the track record to prove it.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
For the past few months I had been training for my Pro Day at Boost Performance in Nashville, TN where I had gotten leaner, stronger, and more explosive. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, I am currently still making gains while practicing social distancing. Between active recovery, running, and lifting in a garage, I am making sure that I am ready whenever I or my agent Ty Barnes, receive a phone call from a team.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
While I do believe I have athletic attributes that will stand out to teams, such as my quickness and explosiveness, I think in an arena where everyone is big, fast and strong, I have many intangible characteristics that stand out. I am an intelligent player whose best football is ahead of me; thanks to off-season training I am in my prime and cannot wait to watch it translate on the field. Moreover, I have a good reputation in holding myself to the utmost standard of character. With my heavy involvement in the Nashville community through programs such as Water Walkers, I am an asset that any team would love to showcase and work with to push the boundaries even further in their philanthropic work.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL or any other pro leagues?
I am a willing, diligent, and versatile football player with an extremely high motor who just needs an opportunity. Coming from Vanderbilt, I had to balance playing SEC football with attending a top tier academic institution, showing that I am able to accomplish all that’s in front of me. But now entering into the next part of life, I am excited to see the trajectory of my professional career focusing solely on football.
