ATLANTA—Brothers Cavin (better known as “Riley”) and Calvin Ridley were extremely close with one another—“tight,” as both indicated—while growing up in South Florida just north of Fort Lauderdale. Still, when it came to the street football games they played as youngsters, often involving brothers Clayton and Clamont, the two older siblings were more so competitive than close, even provoking an occasional physical confrontation in games which “could go either way,” according to the brothers.
Therefore, it’s rather fitting that Riley, a sophomore wide receiver for Georgia, and Calvin, a junior at Alabama who plays the same position, are on opposite sides for this Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship—the first time the brothers are opposing one another since their days of street football.
“We always wished and hoped for it,” Riley said at the CFP Media Day when asked about playing opposite his brother.
Calvin, who is one year older than Riley, torched Georgia in 2015 as a true freshman, totaling 120 receiving yards and a touchdown on five receptions in a one-sided 38-10 Crimson Tide victory in Athens. The three-time All-SEC honoree enters the national title game second in Alabama history in receptions with 220, third in receiving yards with 2,749, and tied for second in career touchdowns catches (18). If he decides to enter professional football early, Calvin is projected as likely a first-round selection in this spring’s NFL Draft.
In the winter of 2016, Riley signed with Georgia, prompting Calvin to check when Alabama and the Bulldogs were scheduled to play next, which wasn’t until 2020.
“I told [Riley], y’all got to make it to the SEC Championship, and then we’ll play against one another,” Calvin said at the CFP Media Day.
Through two seasons, Riley’s tenure at Georgia, he admits, hasn’t resulted in the outcome he hoped for. For his career, he has been limited to 20 receptions for 374 yards and four touchdowns.
Still, on a stage much greater than an SEC title game, the brothers will oppose one another tomorrow at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium; therefore, their relationship, although remaining close, has again become more so competitive.
After routinely talking on a daily basis, the brothers haven’t spoken since their respective games—Riley in the Rose Bowl, Calvin in the Sugar Bowl—ended last week. “He hasn’t called me, he hasn’t texted me yet,” Calvin said of his younger brother.
The two boys are very close with their mother, Kassna Daniels, yet have somewhat different point of views concerning her emotions for such a big game opposing two of her sons.
“It’s really emotional right now for my mom—just for her to see her boys make it on this type of stage,” Riley said. “I think she’s going to go for both Georgia and Alabama.”
Calvin, who said he had spoken to his mother just the day before, believes she is treating it as simply a “normal game” and will wear a specially-made jersey depicting both teams.
Despite not having spoken to one another in days, while the ultimate event pitting their respective schools looms, Riley and Calvin remain competitive, yet have nothing but the utmost respect for one another.
“He’s always been a role model to me,” Riley said. “Him being my older brother, I always look up to him. Just to know he’s one of the top receivers in our conference, and college football, it’s great to have him as a resource.”
Calvin, on the other hand, realizes although Riley’s collegiate football career has yet to flourish, his younger brother is at (and in) a good place.
“[Georgia is] a good program; they got a good coach (head coach Kirby Smart) over there,” Calvin said. “They’re winning, and he’s (Riley) happy, and that’s all that matters.”
Speaking of winning, whether Georgia or Alabama captures the national championship obviously also matters to both of the Ridley brothers—a result which, unlike their street football games that went “either way,” will go only one way.
