Mike Caldwell came to Middle Tennessee in 1989 as a skinny kid from Oak Ridge, Tenn. and left as an All-American linebacker in 1992. He played for coach Boots Donnelly on teams that won three OVC championships while collecting 248 career tackles. As a senior, Caldwell had 76 tackles to lead the team and scored three touchdowns, two on fumbles and one on an interception return. His play that year earned him All-OVC and All-American honors and he started in the Blue-Gray All-Star game.
Caldwell was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round and played 11 seasons in the NFL with six different teams. At the time of his induction, he was coaching linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles.
