By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Recently celebrating Mother’s Day, Millington resident Shovkia Caldwell got an additional gift May 12.
It took an extra days as her son Reggie Caldwell Jr. was able to gather friends, family, Pastor Clark Darrell Middleton and his wife Vickie Lynn (Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church) along with Millington Central High School Athletic Director Beth Hale and most of his Trojan Football coaches for his signing day.
In the lobby of his now alma mater MCHS, Caldwell was joined by his parents Reggie Sr. and Shovkia for his official inking of his letter of intent to Tennessee Valley Prep Academy.
With several guests at the signing invested in Reggie’s past, present in future, the person that summarized his journey to Tennessee Valley Prep was of course his mother. Shovkia broke down the characteristics of her son that helped him reach the next level.
“He had always been studious,” she said.
With her military career moving the family around the United States, the Caldwells landed in Millington. Reggie Sr. said he his trust in a Higher Power led him to positive influences for his son like coaches Dennis Alexander, KJ Cobb, Darren Garcia, Chris Michael, Dodd Gengenbach and many others.
“God, it was all God’s plan,” Reggie Sr. said. “He put in the work and he put in the time. He was a very easy kid to parent to be honest. Great attitude, great grades, great in the community and God fearing. I couldn’t say anymore. With the help of his mom, we couldn’t have done a better job.”
Senior said his son learn teamwork and structure under Alexander as an SYS Trojan. The spark that lit the flame took place against the Tipton County Chiefs when Reggie Jr. was 9 years old. It led to him being named an Tennessee All-Star while in middle school.
“I saw the light bulb come on for him,” Reggie Sr. recalled. “I wanted him to play basketball because I was the hoopster. I played college ball. I saw him going the other way. I was like, ‘I guess I am a football dad.’ That’s what I became from there to being girls’ (Lady Trojans) assistant basketball coach. Coming full circle for me.”
Former Lady Trojans Jamiya Turner and current Millington Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Jason Nichols were in attendance for the signing. It was Caldwell’s support of his peers and those in the athletic department that build strong bonds throughout MCHS.
“He’s very pleasant to be around,” Shovkia noted. “His biggest attribute is his helpfulness.”
Reggie Jr.’s rough patch during his Trojan tenure helped him increase his natural gift of giving. He missed a chunk of his junior season with a leg injury.
“My mom always tells me football can be taken away from you at any time,” Reggie Jr. said. “During that play I didn’t know that was going to be the outcome. When it got taken away I was a little depressed. I’ve never got injured like that or faced adversity like that. It was tough but it definitely opened my eyes up. That’s why the student/athlete part is so important. You’ve got to make sure you’ve got grades too.”
During his time in the classrooms of MCHS, Caldwell’s grade-point average increased from 3.23 to as high as 3.45. With other offers from four-year schools throughout the South, Caldwell elected to take his talents to Defenders Head Coach Adrian Allen.
Founded in 2016, the Tennessee Valley Prep Sports Academy helps bridge the gap between academics and athletics to increase an athlete’s chance to play collegiate sports in the NCAA.
After a season of supporting teammates, studying his coaches and learning the game from a different viewpoint, Caldwell served as the ideal person to help the Trojan Football program transition from the Tommy Clifton Era to the McCoy Pugh Era.
“Just helping him get comfortable with the system,” the younger Reggie said. “I knew it was going to be pressure for McCoy and Tommy went through the same thing. Tommy and I were good friends. So I had to make sure McCoy knew mistakes were going to happen and it’s just football. You can win or lose or any given night. But take the punches and roll with.”
The elder Caldwell said he’s proud of the 2020 Outstanding Offensive Player Award and All-Region selections, but seeing his son be a team players make him most proud.
“It made me fell good to see my son help McCoy,” he recalled. “I never missed a practice so I got to see Pugh’s maturation. As great as Tommy Clifton was for (Reggie) to have the type of year he had with a freshman quarterback speaks volumes of his leadership. Pugh was being a sponge soaking everything up. The coach can take you so far, but sometimes you need that student leader to push you even further.”
Reggie Jr. said he learned how to motivate others from his dad.
“Just staying on my back about every little thing,” the younger Caldwell said with a smile. “If a teacher says I am missing an assignment, he’s calling me saying, ‘Hey you need to get your assignment done.’ He’s making sure I get my deadlines met. That’s going to stop because I do have to grow up.”
Shovkia said now it is time for her baby to go mature and further by writing another successful chapter in his life.
“He a wonderful child,” she said. “He always knew what he wanted once he started playing football around 4, that was it.
“His future is very bright,” Shovkia continued. “He has his mind set for sports medical. Whatever he picks, he’s going to excel at it. One thing I can say about him, if he puts his mind to sometime, he doesn’t stop until he get it.”
While Reggie Sr. feels his son is mature enough to handle his next challenges in life, he still has a job to do.
“His future is unlimited,” he said. “Whatever he puts his mind to it. When he puts his mind to something he masters it. I’m pretty sure its going to continue on. And I am not going to take my foot off the gas. I’m going to continue to push him and be daddy.”
Reggie Jr. said with his support system and his Ultimate Father, he will continue to validate the opinions of his friends, family, coaches, dad and especially his mom.
“Honestly I hope (my future) involves football,” he concluded. “But I am going to leave it in God’s hands. Whatever He has planned, I am just going to take and accept it. Because He knows more than I know.”
