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Caleb Downs Becomes Consensus All-American With AP First-Team Selection, Four Buckeyes Appear on AP Second and Third Teams
By Chase Brown on December 16, 2024 at 1:08 pm @chaseabrown__
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Caleb Downs is now a consensus All-American.
Already a Walter Camp Football Foundation and American Football Coaches Association All-American, Downs added first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press on Monday. While Downs is the lone Ohio State representative on the first team, Jeremiah Smith, Seth McLaughlin and Donovan Jackson appeared on the second team while Lathan Ransom appeared on the third team.
Downs was Ohio State’s top defender in the regular season, collecting 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups while becoming a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award. He also became the first Buckeye to record a punt return touchdown since 2014 when he made a 79-yard house call in the team’s 38-15 win over Indiana.
Downs becomes Ohio State’s 56th consensus All-American all-time. He is the seventh Buckeye to accomplish the feat in Ryan Day’s tenure, following Jeff Okudah (unanimous, 2019), Chase Young (unanimous, 2019), Shaun Wade (consensus, 2020), Wyatt Davis (unanimous, 2020), Paris Johnson (consensus, 2022) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (unanimous, 2022 and 2023).
Downs would become a unanimous All-American if he earns first-team honors from the FWAA and Sporting News. Those teams will be released on Tuesday (FWAA) and Sporting News (Wednesday).
The Rimington Trophy winner and a Walter Camp and AFCA first-team All-American, McLaughlin received second-team honors from the AP as reporters favored Florida center Jake Slaughter over him. Nick Nash (San Jose State), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Xavier Restrepo (Miami) were the wide receivers to earn first-team honors over Smith, and Addison West (Western Michigan) and Willie Lampkin (North Carolina) were the guards to receive first-team honors over Jackson.
Ransom took home third-team honors at safety after first-teamers Downs and Xavier Watts (Notre Dame) and second-teamers Malaki Starks (Georgia) and Malachi Moore (Alabama).
Caleb Downs Becomes Consensus All-American With AP First-Team Selection, Four Buckeyes Appear on AP Second and Third Teams
Caleb Downs becomes Ohio State's 56th consensus All-American all-time after receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press.
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Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs Becomes A Unanimous All-American, Donovan Jackson Also Named First-Team All-American by Sporting News
By Dan Hope on December 18, 2024 at 11:30 am @dan_hope
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Caleb Downs is officially a unanimous All-American.
The Ohio State safety became the 34th different player in Ohio State history to earn unanimous All-American honors as he was named Wednesday as a first-team All-American by Sporting News.
Donovan Jackson also earned first-team All-American honors at guard from Sporting News while Seth McLaughlin was named a second-team All-American on the offensive line.
Downs becomes the fourth safety in Ohio State history to earn unanimous All-American honors, joining Malik Hooker (2016), Mike Doss (2002) and Jack Tatum (1970).
Ohio State's Unanimous All-Americans
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CALEB DOWNS | SAFETY |
| 2023 | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2022 | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2020 | WYATT DAVIS | GUARD |
| 2019 | CHASE YOUNG | DEFENSIVE END |
| 2019 | JEFF OKUDAH | CORNERBACK |
| 2017 | BILLY PRICE | CENTER |
| 2016 | PAT ELFLEIN | CENTER |
| 2016 | MALIK HOOKER | SAFETY |
| 2014 | JOEY BOSA | DEFENSIVE END |
| 2007 | JAMES LAURINAITIS | LINEBACKER |
| 2006 | TROY SMITH | QUARTERBACK |
| 2005 | A.J. HAWK | LINEBACKER |
| 2004 | MIKE NUGENT | KICKER |
| 2002 | MIKE DOSS | SAFETY |
| 1998 | ANTOINE WINFIELD | CORNERBACK |
| 1996 | ORLANDO PACE | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1995 | EDDIE GEORGE | RUNNING BACK |
| 1995 | ORLANDO PACE | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1987 | CHRIS SPIELMAN | LINEBACKER |
| 1987 | TOM TUPA | PUNTER |
| 1984 | KEITH BYARS | RUNNING BACK |
| 1977 | CHRIS WARD | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1975 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RUNNING BACK |
| 1974 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RUNNING BACK |
| 1973 | JOHN HICKS | GUARD |
| 1973 | RANDY GRADISHAR | LINEBACKER |
| 1970 | JACK TATUM | SAFETY |
| 1970 | JIM STILLWAGON | NOSE TACKLE |
| 1968 | DAVE FOLEY | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1961 | BOB FERGUSON | FULLBACK |
| 1960 | BOB FERGUSON | FULLBACK |
| 1956 | JIM PARKER | GUARD |
| 1955 | HOWARD "HOPALONG" CASSADY | HALFBACK |
| 1954 | HOWARD "HOPALONG" CASSADY | HALFBACK |
| 1950 | VIC JANOWICZ | HALFBACK |
| 1945 | WARREN AMLING | GUARD |
| 1944 | LES HORVATH | QUARTERBACK/HALFBACK |
| 1930 | WES FESLER | END |
Already considered to be the best safety in college football when he transferred to Ohio State, Downs has lived up to the hype in his first season as a Buckeye. He recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups during the regular season, leading the way for Ohio State’s defense to lead the country in both points and yards allowed per game with his excellence in both coverage and tackling. He also had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown against Indiana, Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown in 10 years.
Overall, Downs’ unanimous All-American season is the 39th in Ohio State history as five Buckeyes have earned the honor twice: Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022-23), Orlando Pace (1995-96), Archie Griffin (1974-75), Bob Ferguson (1960-61) and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1954-55). As a sophomore who is still a year away from being draft-eligible, Downs will have the chance to join that illustrious group if he performs up to expectations next season.
Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs Becomes A Unanimous All-American, Donovan Jackson Also Named First-Team All-American by Sporting News
Caleb Downs becomes the 34th different Ohio State player to earn unanimous All-American honors while Donovan Jackson is also a first-team All-American by Sporting News.
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Pay him what it takes. We can't afford to pay him what he's worth. Another year like this and he'll be a forever hero in Buckeye lore
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