Calvin Ridley played his high school football at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida. He was rated a five-star prospect coming out of high school, despite the fact that he was unable to play for much of his senior season.

Due to an age restriction in Florida that does not allow players to take the field if they are over 19 years and 9 months old, Ridley’s senior season of high school consisted of just three games. But he managed to make enough of an impression to sign with Alabama for his college years.

As a member of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, Ridley rose to fame by being an explosive weapon in the passing game. In his freshman season, Ridley was one of quarterback Jake Coker’s favorite targets, with Ridley earning over 1,000 yards receiving in his first season. Alabama won the College Football Playoff in Ridley’s freshman season, defeating Clemson to do so.

In his junior season, Ridley earned a spot as a first-team all-SEC selection. He averaged over 15 yards per catch that year, including seven catches for 82 yards and a score in the season opener against Florida State. Ridley caught a game-tying touchdown late in the College Football Playoff national championship game, a game the Crimson Tide would win over the University of Georgia. This ended up being Ridley’s final collegiate game.

Calvin Ridley was drafted with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons, creating a great fit for Ridley. With opposing defenses forced to focus on Julio Jones in the receiving corps, Ridley was able to make an immediate impact. He was named offensive rookie of the month for his first month as a pro, and finished his rookie year with 10 touchdown catches.

Ridley set career highs in receiving yards and yards per catch in his second season as a pro. He hauled in 63 passes for 866 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore campaign.

He has over 2,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns through his first three seasons as a professional, and the future is bright for Ridley to say the least.