Opportunity Awaits For Ducking
August 25, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Bulldog receiver is ready for the chance to prove himself in 2022.
STARKVILLE – You surely remember last year, right? You know, back when Makai Polk was catching ball after ball for Mississippi State, leading the Southeastern Conference in receptions and setting a new MSU single-season high in receiving yardage?
You likely watched on in awe. Well, you weren't the only one watching.
Caleb Ducking was watching, too. He was watching, learning and waiting for his turn. Now, here it is.
The 2022 season sits only days away. Ducking is set for his biggest role as a Bulldog receiver yet. It's his third year on campus. He's had to grind to get to this point. About the only thing left to do is to prove to himself and everyone else that he's up for being a big part of the State offense.
"I'm ready," Ducking said. "Everybody is depending on me, and everybody knows what I can do now. I'm just ready to showcase what I can do."
To be fair, Ducking has already shown flashes of what he's capable of. He saw action in seven games last year, catching nine passes for 83 yards. The playing time served as valuable experience for the Rolling Fork, Mississippi, native who came to State after playing the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Holmes [Mississippi] Community College.
However, the most valuable moments Ducking spent last year might've actually come when he wasn't the one on the field.
"Sitting behind [Polk], I learned a lot from him," Ducking said. "Now, I'm just applying it to my everyday skills."
You can't beat picking up tips from a wideout that's currently with the Baltimore Ravens this preseason where he's challenging for a roster spot. Polk led the Ravens in targets in Baltimore's preseason opener a couple of weeks ago, then saw action in 44 percent of the team's snaps this past Sunday. He's been impressing at the next level.
Before that though, Polk was tearing it up with the Bulldogs in head coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offense. The only negative to that for Ducking was with Polk in Maroon and White, Ducking's chances for himself were limited.
"Last year, [Ducking] was just stuck behind a player that was a really good player," MSU outside receivers coach Steve Spurrier, Jr. said. "[Ducking] knows that, too."
He sure does.
"Makai's a pretty good player," Ducking easily admits. "I had to wait my time and learn from him."
The lessons Ducking picked up are now paying off. Ducking has had a tremendously successful preseason camp for Mississippi State. He feels like a more polished player than ever before.
"I feel like I've added new things to my routes," Ducking said. "I've learned how to get in and out of breaks and keep my hips low because I'm a tall receiver."
Speaking of Ducking's 6-foot-5 frame, part of Ducking's development has come as he's recognized exactly what he has to work with.
"I've just learned how to use my size and use my speed to play big," Ducking said. "Normally, I'm bigger than the [defensive back], so I just have to go up and get the ball."
Ducking has stolen a trait or two as well while fine-tuning his game.
"Just watching the other [receivers], I've learned things from them and picked things up from them," Ducking said.
There seems to be one other guy's talents who Ducking has tried to incorporate more than all the rest though. It's the one who's no longer here but left a lasting impression in Starkville.
"I tell people all the time – a lot of the things I do out here, I learned from [Polk]," Ducking said. "Makai taught me a lot of the things I know."
Spurrier has certainly noticed all of Ducking's growth.
"He's played well, performed well and practiced well," Spurrier said. "He's earned the right to play well…He knows his time is coming and he's going to get his opportunity to play. He's worked hard."
Ducking has indeed put in the effort. Now, he's about to get his chance to show everyone what all he's learned.
"Time will tell [what happens]," Spurrier said. "I look forward to watching him play this season."
