Indiana scoops up a commitment from TE Hubert Caliste Jr.

Indiana is picking up the pace on the recruiting trail. On Tuesday, the Hoosiers landed three-star New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine tight end Hubert Caliste Jr., who committed to Indiana over the likes of Florida State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Houston, and Tulane, among others.

The On3 Industry Ranking top-60 tight end from The Boot is Big Ten-bound after an official visit to Indiana over the weekend, which included connecting with the Hoosiers’ coaching staff on the field and away from it.

“Indiana checked off every box for me,” Caliste told On3. “Everything felt right.”

“It felt like the right fit as far as developing me as a man and also preparing me for life. That’s really what stood out the most,” he added.

Hoosiers tight ends coach Kevin Wright played a hand in luring Caliste to Bloomington. Head coach Tom Allen, however, played the role of closer.

Allen made Caliste a top priority over the course of the spring and into the summer. That made for an easy decision for the talented 6-foot-4, 235-pound pass-catcher from the Crescent City.

“I was talking to Coach Allen almost every other day,” he started, “and it was about things outside of football. That really showed me that he cares about me as a person and that it’s bigger than just the game.”

“The biggest thing that caught my eye about Indiana is the family environment over there,” Louisiana’s No. 38-ranked recruit continued. “Everybody is all in and everybody cares about each other. The biggest highlight of being there was spending time with the players. It felt like type of people I can be around every day.”

Caliste, also a standout on the basketball court at St. Augustine High School, is the No. 59-rated tight end in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Caliste’s father, Hubert Caliste, is a former San Diego State defensive back that also shined in multiple sports. Like his son, the elder Caliste was a star basketball player as well in New Orleans — at G.W. Carver High School.

The new Indiana commitment has been a staple in the St. Aug passing game the past two seasons and is in store for a prominent role as a senior. Still very new to the sport overall, Caliste has strong, reliable hands and maneuvers well in space after the catch.