Caden Prieskorn: Powerful Rise from Walk-On to NFL
From a high-school quarterback to an award-winning Ole Miss tight end, his journey shows how patience, position changes and steady development can transform a football career.
Introduction
Caden Prieskorn is an American football tight end known for playing college football at Memphis and Ole Miss. He became nationally recognised after producing a record-setting performance in the 2023 Peach Bowl.
His path was not simple. He entered college as a walk-on quarterback, changed positions, developed into an all-conference tight end and later earned opportunities with several NFL teams.
His story stands out among the detailed career profiles that examine how people respond to setbacks, competition and major turning points.
He is best known for winning Offensive MVP honours in the 2023 Peach Bowl and pursuing an NFL career after going undrafted in 2025.
Caden Prieskorn Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Caden Reed Prieskorn |
| Date of birth | September 21, 1999 |
| Age | 26 years old |
| Birthplace | Lake Orion, Michigan, United States |
| Hometown | Lake Orion, Michigan |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | American football player |
| Position | Tight end |
| Height | 6 feet 5 inches |
| Listed weight | 255 pounds |
| High school | Orchard Lake St. Mary’s |
| Preparatory school | Fork Union Military Academy |
| Colleges | University of Memphis and University of Mississippi |
| Degree | Multi-Disciplinary Studies |
| College jersey number | 86 |
| Wife | Cali Prieskorn |
| Children | Mac and Romy |
| Famous for | Ole Miss career and 2023 Peach Bowl Offensive MVP award |
| Current status | Free-agent tight end as of June 2026 |
Who Is Caden Prieskorn?
Caden Prieskorn is a professional-level American football player who competes as a tight end.
He played for the Memphis Tigers from 2019 to 2022 before transferring to the Ole Miss Rebels for his final two college seasons.
At Ole Miss, he developed into one of the Southeastern Conference’s leading receiving tight ends. His size, reliable hands and ability to find space made him an important part of the Rebels’ passing attack.
His rise from an overlooked quarterback to an NFL prospect represents the type of determined career journey regularly covered by Blog Mush.
Early Life in Michigan
He was born on September 21, 1999, in Lake Orion, Michigan.
Growing up, football became an important part of his life. He attended Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, where he played quarterback rather than the tight-end position associated with his later career.
As a junior, he helped the school win a Michigan state championship. He threw for around 200 yards and two touchdowns during the championship game.
His early experience at quarterback helped him understand passing formations, defensive coverage and the decisions made by offensive play-callers.
After high school, he continued his development at Fork Union Military Academy. He played both quarterback and tight end there, beginning the transition that later changed his career.
Parents, Siblings and Family Background
He is the son of Jill Prieskorn and Gerald “Jerry” Prieskorn.
His publicly documented siblings are Peyton, Brady and Skylar. His younger brother Brady also became a college tight end and later joined the Ole Miss football programme.
Jerry played an influential role in his children’s sporting development. Caden has recalled going to the gym, football field and golf course with his father.
His father died in October 2023 following cancer. Caden temporarily stepped away from football to spend time with his family during that difficult period.
After returning, he continued playing while receiving support from teammates and coaches. His ability to perform during that season became one of the most emotional parts of his Ole Miss story.
Education and College Degree
Prieskorn began his university education at the University of Memphis.
His academic recognition at Memphis included membership in the Tiger 3.0 Club, AAC All-Academic Team selections and a place on the Dean’s List during the fall 2019 semester.
He later transferred to the University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole Miss.
He graduated in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies.
His education continued alongside the demanding schedule of an NCAA football player. That required regular training, travel, team meetings, academic work and game preparation.
Long-term development is also central to John Tasioulas’s career, although his achievements developed within philosophy and university research rather than professional sport.
Starting at Memphis as a Walk-On
Prieskorn joined Memphis in 2019 as a walk-on quarterback.
A walk-on normally enters a college programme without the same scholarship status or recruiting attention given to highly rated prospects. This meant he needed to prove his value through training and development.
His coaches eventually moved him from quarterback to tight end. The change allowed him to use his height, growing frame and understanding of the passing game.
He redshirted his opening season and received limited opportunities during the early part of his college career.
Instead of leaving the programme, he continued developing physically and learning a position that required both receiving and blocking skills.
That decision became the most important turning point of his early career.
Breakthrough Season with Memphis
His breakthrough arrived in 2022.
He started all 13 games and recorded 48 receptions for 602 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
He led Memphis in receiving yards and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns.
His 48 receptions and seven touchdown catches equalled single-season programme records for a Memphis tight end. His 602 receiving yards ranked second in school history at the position.
One of his best performances came against East Carolina, when he caught six passes for a season-high 104 yards.
His production earned Second-Team All-AAC recognition. PFF and Phil Steele selected him for their First-Team All-AAC line-ups.
He was also named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, which recognises the most outstanding tight end in college football.
Transfer to Ole Miss
Following his successful 2022 season, Prieskorn entered the transfer portal.
He attracted interest from major college football programmes because of his production, size and remaining eligibility.
He committed to Ole Miss in January 2023. The move allowed him to compete in the SEC and join Lane Kiffin’s high-scoring offence.
His first Rebels season did not begin smoothly. He underwent knee surgery and missed the opening three games of the 2023 campaign.
He made his Ole Miss debut against Alabama and gradually became more involved in the passing game.
Despite the delayed start, he finished the season with 30 receptions, 449 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
His average of nearly 15 yards per catch demonstrated his ability to produce more than short possession catches.
Record-Setting Peach Bowl Performance
The biggest moment of his college career came against Penn State in the Peach Bowl on December 30, 2023.
He caught 10 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed a successful two-point conversion.
His 10 receptions established an Ole Miss bowl-game record.
The Rebels defeated Penn State 38–25, and Prieskorn received the Peach Bowl Offensive MVP award.
The performance attracted national attention because it came against one of the strongest defensive teams in college football.
It also completed an emotional season in which he had recovered from surgery and dealt with the death of his father.
His season ended with Second-Team All-SEC recognition from the conference’s coaches.
Final Ole Miss Season
He returned to Ole Miss for the 2024 season rather than immediately entering the NFL Draft.
He appeared in all 13 games and made 10 starts. Eight starts came at tight end, while two came at wide receiver.
He recorded 27 receptions for 401 yards and three touchdowns.
His important performances included five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma. He also produced four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown against Mississippi State.
According to his official Ole Miss career record, he finished his Rebels career with 57 catches, 850 yards and seven touchdowns.
Among Ole Miss tight ends, he ranked third in career receiving yards, tied for sixth in touchdowns and seventh in receptions when his college career ended.
Complete College Career Statistics
| Season | Team | Receptions | Receiving yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Memphis | 3 | 33 | 0 |
| 2021 | Memphis | 4 | 46 | 0 |
| 2022 | Memphis | 48 | 602 | 7 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 30 | 449 | 4 |
| 2024 | Ole Miss | 27 | 401 | 3 |
| Career total | Memphis and Ole Miss | 112 | 1,531 | 14 |
He completed his college career with 52 appearances and 33 starts.
Awards and Major Achievements
His verified college honours include:
- 2022 Second-Team All-AAC
- 2022 First-Team All-AAC selection by PFF
- 2022 First-Team All-AAC selection by Phil Steele
- 2022 John Mackey Award semifinalist
- 2022 Burlsworth Trophy nominee
- 2023 Peach Bowl Offensive MVP
- 2023 Second-Team All-SEC
- 2023 and 2024 Mackey Award Watch List selection
- 2024 All-SEC honourable mention
- 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl invitation
The progress behind these achievements reflects the same value of sustained professional improvement explored in Mladen Adamovic’s career.
NFL Draft and Professional Journey
Prieskorn entered the 2025 NFL Draft after completing his Ole Miss career.
No team selected him during the seven-round draft. However, the Detroit Lions signed him as an undrafted free agent.
His stay in Detroit was brief, and the Lions waived him after rookie minicamp.
The Denver Broncos signed him on June 3, 2025. During the preseason, he recorded four catches for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Denver released him during its final roster reductions in August 2025.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added him to their practice squad in September. He remained with the organisation for several weeks before being released in October.
The Cleveland Browns signed him to their practice squad on October 27, 2025. He did not appear in a regular-season game during the campaign.
Cleveland later signed him to a reserve/futures contract in January 2026.
The Cleveland Browns’ official transaction confirmed that the team waived him on May 19, 2026.
Current Status in June 2026
Prieskorn participated in a Baltimore Ravens tryout during the team’s mandatory minicamp in June 2026.
The workout gave Baltimore an opportunity to assess him as a possible depth tight end or training-camp addition.
No subsequent signing had been officially announced by June 24, 2026.
He should therefore be described as a free-agent tight end rather than an active Cleveland Browns player.
Some older online profiles still display Cleveland as his current team, but those pages do not reflect the Browns’ May 2026 roster transaction.
Playing Style and Strengths
Prieskorn has the physical frame of a traditional NFL tight end.
His large catch radius allows quarterbacks to target him in crowded areas. He has shown strong hands when making contested catches and receiving passes through contact.
He can line up beside an offensive tackle, in the slot or as a wide receiver. Ole Miss used that versatility by starting him at both tight end and wide receiver during his final season.
He is particularly effective when finding open space against zone coverage.
His size also gives him potential near the goal line, where positioning and catch radius can be more important than pure speed.
Scouting evaluations have identified blocking consistency and separation speed as areas requiring further development.
Wife and Children
Caden is married to Cali Prieskorn.
The couple met while they were students at the University of Memphis. They married in July 2023.
They have two children, a son named Mac and a daughter named Romy.
Cali has developed a public following through family and lifestyle content. She has also discussed the uncertainty experienced by NFL families when players move between teams or practice squads.
The family maintained close connections with Oxford, Mississippi, after his college career.
Public Image and Work Ethic
His public image is strongly connected with persistence.
He was not a celebrated high-school tight-end recruit. He entered Memphis as a walk-on quarterback and needed to learn a different position before earning a major role.
His progress required several years of physical development and limited playing time.
He later recovered from knee surgery, managed a family tragedy and produced the most important performance of his career during the same season.
Coaches and teammates have described him as a committed player who values family, preparation and improvement.
Readers examining how personal experiences shape professional work may also find useful context in Nicola O’Leary’s career story.
Interesting Facts About Caden Prieskorn
- He began his college career as a quarterback.
- He joined Memphis as a walk-on.
- He gained considerable size while changing from quarterback to tight end.
- He helped Orchard Lake St. Mary’s win a state championship.
- His younger brother Brady also plays tight end.
- He graduated from Ole Miss in December 2023.
- He set an Ole Miss bowl record with 10 receptions.
- He won Offensive MVP honours in the 2023 Peach Bowl.
- He finished college with 1,531 receiving yards.
- He received opportunities from five NFL organisations between 2025 and June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Caden Prieskorn?
He is 26 years old as of June 2026.
Where was he born?
He was born in Lake Orion, Michigan, United States.
How tall is he?
He is listed at 6 feet 5 inches tall.
What position does he play?
He plays tight end.
Which colleges did he attend?
He played football for Memphis and Ole Miss.
What is he famous for?
He is famous for his Ole Miss career and record-setting Peach Bowl performance.
Is Caden Prieskorn married?
Yes, he is married to Cali Prieskorn.
Does he have children?
Yes, he has two children named Mac and Romy.
Was he selected in the NFL Draft?
No, he went undrafted in 2025 and entered the league as a free agent.
What team does he play for now?
He was a free agent as of June 24, 2026, after being waived by Cleveland and attending a Baltimore Ravens tryout.
Conclusion
Caden Prieskorn built his football career through patience, adaptation and steady improvement.
He started as a Michigan high-school quarterback, entered Memphis as a walk-on and developed into an award-winning tight end.
His breakout season with the Tigers created an opportunity to move to Ole Miss, where he became one of the SEC’s most productive players at his position.
The 2023 Peach Bowl remains the defining performance of his career. His 10 catches, 136 yards and two touchdowns helped Ole Miss defeat Penn State and earned him Offensive MVP honours.
His NFL journey has included several short-term opportunities rather than an established regular-season role. However, his June 2026 Ravens tryout showed that he remained under consideration for another professional opportunity.
His journey demonstrates that a successful sporting career does not always begin with major recruiting attention. Development, resilience and the ability to accept a new role can completely change a player’s future.
