Photo by: Kevin Snyder/MSU Athletics
Calhoun Making The Most Of His Opportunity
September 16, 2022 | Football
STARKVILLE – All Taveze Calhoun needed was a chance.
Calhoun was a lightly recruited prospect out of Morton (Miss.) High School in the class of 2011 and only had a couple of football options from smaller schools. Ultimately, however, Mississippi State came through with a scholarship offer late in the process that Calhoun has spent the last 11 years capitalizing on.
Calhoun helped contribute to one of the most successful runs in school history from 2012-15 and became a three-year starter for the Bulldogs at cornerback. He started 36 of 50 games and notched 161 career tackles, 12 stops for loss, six interceptions, forced three fumbles and made one recovery.
"He's one of those guys that came from a small town in Mississippi that came to Mississippi State and took advantage of every opportunity," said associate head coach Tony Hughes, who recruited Calhoun to MSU. "He had the work ethic and chip on his shoulder. He had a point to prove, not only on the football field but in the classroom as well. He made us a better football team because of his personality, work ethic and unselfishness."
Calhoun's accolades extended beyond the gridiron as well. He was an SEC Academic Honor Roll selection every year of his career, a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and a member of the SEC Community Service Team in 2015. He was also finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered the "Academic Heisman", and used the $18,000 scholarship he was awarded to complete his master's degree in teaching.
"I really didn't have any expectations when I got here," Calhoun said. "I just came in and worked hard because that's what I'd been taught as a young boy and that paid off. It was who I was and who I became as a player. I just tried to make the best of every opportunity that I had on the academic and football side."
After earning his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies with a 3.5 grade point average in the spring of 2015, Calhoun set his sights on continuing his playing career at the next level. He spent four seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons before retiring in 2019.
Calhoun contemplated a life away from football when his playing career concluded but was offered a chance to coach by Brandon High School. It was another opportunity that Calhoun, who'd caught the coaching bug way back in his prep career, simply couldn't pass up.
From 2020-21, Calhoun coached cornerbacks and served as co-special teams coordinator at Brandon in addition to helping with middle school football and track. He also taught physical education classes during the day.
CHANGING COURSE
Once again, however, Mississippi State changed Calhoun's career course with one phone call.
Unbeknownst to him, two of Calhoun's former Bulldog teammates that are now college coaches – Allen Tucker and Chad Bumphis – contacted MSU on his behalf to recommend him for a graduate assistant opportunity on Mike Leach's coaching staff.
After a phone call from defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, Calhoun was on his way back to Starkville.
"I feel like it's an opportunity that God opened for me," Calhoun said. "It's not something I was looking for, but it happened. It's definitely surreal to come back to a place where I created a lot of memories. It's great to get my first (college) coaching job at the same place where I played at has been really, really good. I've really been blessed with this opportunity."
Calhoun currently serves as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Bulldogs and works with the defensive scout team. He is also in graduate school working towards another degree in workforce education leadership.
"He's definitely an asset," Hughes said. "He loves Mississippi State and appreciates what Mississippi State did for him, and now he has the opportunity to come back and give to Mississippi State."
Since joining the Bulldogs' staff over the summer, Calhoun can see himself sticking around and coaching on the college level. The Ludlow native is trying to glean as much knowledge as he can from this experience to assist him as he continues to ascend the coaching ranks.
"I do like the college role," Calhoun said. "I'm grateful and really enjoyed my time on the high school level, and I've really been enjoying my time here. I'm really just trying to grow in the profession and learn as much as I can. I'd like to stay at the college level, become a position coach and go from there."
With three years as a starting corner in the SEC, a four-year NFL career, two degrees and working towards a third as well as a budding coaching career, Calhoun has certainly made the most of the opportunity MSU provided him over a decade ago aided by his hard work and dedication.
"Mississippi State means the most to me," Calhoun said. "I consider myself a blue-collar person and this is definitely a blue-collar place. This place has taken me to places I never thought I would go in life. I'm just super grateful for the people and the staff here and the university in totality."
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Calhoun was a lightly recruited prospect out of Morton (Miss.) High School in the class of 2011 and only had a couple of football options from smaller schools. Ultimately, however, Mississippi State came through with a scholarship offer late in the process that Calhoun has spent the last 11 years capitalizing on.
Calhoun helped contribute to one of the most successful runs in school history from 2012-15 and became a three-year starter for the Bulldogs at cornerback. He started 36 of 50 games and notched 161 career tackles, 12 stops for loss, six interceptions, forced three fumbles and made one recovery.
"He's one of those guys that came from a small town in Mississippi that came to Mississippi State and took advantage of every opportunity," said associate head coach Tony Hughes, who recruited Calhoun to MSU. "He had the work ethic and chip on his shoulder. He had a point to prove, not only on the football field but in the classroom as well. He made us a better football team because of his personality, work ethic and unselfishness."
Calhoun's accolades extended beyond the gridiron as well. He was an SEC Academic Honor Roll selection every year of his career, a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and a member of the SEC Community Service Team in 2015. He was also finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered the "Academic Heisman", and used the $18,000 scholarship he was awarded to complete his master's degree in teaching.
"I really didn't have any expectations when I got here," Calhoun said. "I just came in and worked hard because that's what I'd been taught as a young boy and that paid off. It was who I was and who I became as a player. I just tried to make the best of every opportunity that I had on the academic and football side."
After earning his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies with a 3.5 grade point average in the spring of 2015, Calhoun set his sights on continuing his playing career at the next level. He spent four seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons before retiring in 2019.
Calhoun contemplated a life away from football when his playing career concluded but was offered a chance to coach by Brandon High School. It was another opportunity that Calhoun, who'd caught the coaching bug way back in his prep career, simply couldn't pass up.
From 2020-21, Calhoun coached cornerbacks and served as co-special teams coordinator at Brandon in addition to helping with middle school football and track. He also taught physical education classes during the day.
CHANGING COURSE
Once again, however, Mississippi State changed Calhoun's career course with one phone call.
Unbeknownst to him, two of Calhoun's former Bulldog teammates that are now college coaches – Allen Tucker and Chad Bumphis – contacted MSU on his behalf to recommend him for a graduate assistant opportunity on Mike Leach's coaching staff.
After a phone call from defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, Calhoun was on his way back to Starkville.
"I feel like it's an opportunity that God opened for me," Calhoun said. "It's not something I was looking for, but it happened. It's definitely surreal to come back to a place where I created a lot of memories. It's great to get my first (college) coaching job at the same place where I played at has been really, really good. I've really been blessed with this opportunity."
Calhoun currently serves as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Bulldogs and works with the defensive scout team. He is also in graduate school working towards another degree in workforce education leadership.
"He's definitely an asset," Hughes said. "He loves Mississippi State and appreciates what Mississippi State did for him, and now he has the opportunity to come back and give to Mississippi State."
Since joining the Bulldogs' staff over the summer, Calhoun can see himself sticking around and coaching on the college level. The Ludlow native is trying to glean as much knowledge as he can from this experience to assist him as he continues to ascend the coaching ranks.
"I do like the college role," Calhoun said. "I'm grateful and really enjoyed my time on the high school level, and I've really been enjoying my time here. I'm really just trying to grow in the profession and learn as much as I can. I'd like to stay at the college level, become a position coach and go from there."
With three years as a starting corner in the SEC, a four-year NFL career, two degrees and working towards a third as well as a budding coaching career, Calhoun has certainly made the most of the opportunity MSU provided him over a decade ago aided by his hard work and dedication.
"Mississippi State means the most to me," Calhoun said. "I consider myself a blue-collar person and this is definitely a blue-collar place. This place has taken me to places I never thought I would go in life. I'm just super grateful for the people and the staff here and the university in totality."
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