Michael Citro
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Caleb Downs could be Ohio State’s most impactful newcomer
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Alabama transfer should elevate the Buckeye secondary to another level.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
Of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal and freshman arrivals, perhaps the most intriguing one is safety Caleb Downs. The Alabama transfer is coming off a monster freshman season in Tuscaloosa, which led to him being the No. 1 ranked transfer portal player this past offseason.
In 2023, Downs became the first Alabama freshman in history to lead the team in tackles (107). He had a knack for big plays, too, finishing the season with 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. His two interceptions placed him second on the Crimson Tide.
Despite his importance to the defense, he was too good to keep off the special teams unit. Downs returned four punts with a 21.75-yard average and scored a touchdown.
After his first year of college football, Downs was named the Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year, a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus, a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News, the SEC Freshman of the Year, and made the All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC teams.
His talent is undeniable on both sides of the ball, and Ohio State even gave him practice reps at running back in March and April spring practices as a contingency plan for the fall in case he’s needed on offense.
Downs’ pedigree is also unquestioned, as his father, Gary Downs, played running back in the NFL for the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, while his uncle is former Pro Bowl defensive back Dre Bly. He was heavily recruited by every major program in the country coming out of Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia, where he was a five-star recruit and one of the nation’s top prospects, receiving scholarship offers from more than 30 schools.
People around the country are expecting big things from Downs at Ohio State, as he was one of four Buckeyes named to the preseason All-American list in August.
A January transfer, Downs was outspoken about his reasons for wanting to join the Buckeyes — a team that was in his original final five coming out of high school, along with Bama, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Georgia.
“I believe in Coach Day and I belive in this team,” Downs told reporters back in January. “They played great defense last year. Just watching the film, and seeing how they progressed, and seeing how their defense played last year definitely helped me make a more sound decision and having more facts about what I’m going to be getting into.”
Downs should only improve a passing defense that was ranked first in the nation in 2023, allowing just 145.9 yards per game through the air. He’ll also help against the run, as shown by his 107 tackles a year ago. Those 107 tackles are more than double what Ohio State’s leading safety tackler recorded last year (Sonny Styles — 52).
While his importance to the defense should give Ohio State’s coaching staff pause to use him offensively, his special teams skills should not be discounted. The Buckeyes have struggled in that phase of the game over the last few years and having Downs return punts, although not entirely without risk, could give the Buckeyes a game breaker that has been missing. It’s not as common as it once was, but having the best players on the field for as many snaps as possible was once the industry standard (see also: Ted Ginn, Jr.).
The addition of Downs could propel Ohio State’s defense from good to elite. Despite the arrival of multiple quarterbacks in the transfer portal and a world-class wide receiver as an incoming freshman, it just might be the safety transfer from Alabama who ends up being the Buckeyes’ most impactful newcomer in 2024.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Alabama transfer should elevate the Buckeye secondary to another level.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
Of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal and freshman arrivals, perhaps the most intriguing one is safety Caleb Downs. The Alabama transfer is coming off a monster freshman season in Tuscaloosa, which led to him being the No. 1 ranked transfer portal player this past offseason.
In 2023, Downs became the first Alabama freshman in history to lead the team in tackles (107). He had a knack for big plays, too, finishing the season with 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. His two interceptions placed him second on the Crimson Tide.
Despite his importance to the defense, he was too good to keep off the special teams unit. Downs returned four punts with a 21.75-yard average and scored a touchdown.
After his first year of college football, Downs was named the Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year, a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus, a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News, the SEC Freshman of the Year, and made the All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC teams.
His talent is undeniable on both sides of the ball, and Ohio State even gave him practice reps at running back in March and April spring practices as a contingency plan for the fall in case he’s needed on offense.
Downs’ pedigree is also unquestioned, as his father, Gary Downs, played running back in the NFL for the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, while his uncle is former Pro Bowl defensive back Dre Bly. He was heavily recruited by every major program in the country coming out of Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia, where he was a five-star recruit and one of the nation’s top prospects, receiving scholarship offers from more than 30 schools.
People around the country are expecting big things from Downs at Ohio State, as he was one of four Buckeyes named to the preseason All-American list in August.
A January transfer, Downs was outspoken about his reasons for wanting to join the Buckeyes — a team that was in his original final five coming out of high school, along with Bama, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Georgia.
“I believe in Coach Day and I belive in this team,” Downs told reporters back in January. “They played great defense last year. Just watching the film, and seeing how they progressed, and seeing how their defense played last year definitely helped me make a more sound decision and having more facts about what I’m going to be getting into.”
Downs should only improve a passing defense that was ranked first in the nation in 2023, allowing just 145.9 yards per game through the air. He’ll also help against the run, as shown by his 107 tackles a year ago. Those 107 tackles are more than double what Ohio State’s leading safety tackler recorded last year (Sonny Styles — 52).
While his importance to the defense should give Ohio State’s coaching staff pause to use him offensively, his special teams skills should not be discounted. The Buckeyes have struggled in that phase of the game over the last few years and having Downs return punts, although not entirely without risk, could give the Buckeyes a game breaker that has been missing. It’s not as common as it once was, but having the best players on the field for as many snaps as possible was once the industry standard (see also: Ted Ginn, Jr.).
The addition of Downs could propel Ohio State’s defense from good to elite. Despite the arrival of multiple quarterbacks in the transfer portal and a world-class wide receiver as an incoming freshman, it just might be the safety transfer from Alabama who ends up being the Buckeyes’ most impactful newcomer in 2024.
Continue reading...