He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, earning consensus All-American honors in 2008.

He was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft.

[1] Caldwell received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, where he played for coach Mike Shula and coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football teams from 2005 to 2008.

3 center available in the 2009 NFL draft, behind Alex Mack and Eric Wood.

[15] As projected, he was the third center selected off the board, in the third round by the Houston Texans.