Caleb Downs (born December 10, 2004) is an

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

safety Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings The word 'safety' entered the English language in the 1 ...

for the

Ohio State Buckeyes The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio State University, located in Columbus, Ohio. The athletic programs are named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Ohio and after the state tree, ...

. He previously played for the

Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the Na ...

, where he was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year.

Early life

Downs attended Mill Creek High School in

Hoschton, Georgia Hoschton is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,377 at the 2010 census. As of 2018 the estimated population was 1,916. History The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the city in 1891 as the Town of Hoschto ...

. Downs was the named the

All-American Bowl The All-American Bowl was an annual postseason college football bowl game played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama from 1977 to 1990. The game was known as the Hall of Fame Classic from 1977 to 1985. In 1986, the National Football Foundatio ...

Player of the Year as a senior. He was ranked as one of the top players in the 2023 college football recruiting class and considered the nation's No. 1 safety prospect. He was ranked No. 9 nationally by Rivals.com, No. 11 by ESPN and No. 8 by 247Sports. In July 2023, he was named Defensive Football Player of the Year by ''USA Today''.

College career

Downs committed to

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

on July 27, 2022. He chose Alabama over Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State. In his debut, he led the team in tackles with eight. At the conclusion of his freshman season Downs was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Following the retirement of

Nick Saban Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. ( ; born October 31, 1951) is an American sportscaster and former Professional gridiron football, professional and college football coach. He serves as an analyst for ESPN's ''College GameDay (football TV program), Colleg ...

, he transferred to

Ohio State The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one of the largest universities by enrollme ...

. In Ohio State's 38–15 win over No. 5

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, Downs returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. At the conclusion of the 2024 season Downs was named an

unanimous All-American The College Football All-America Team is an honorific college football all-star team compiled after each NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season to recognize that season's most outstanding performers at their respective positions. ...

Personal life

Downs' father, Gary, played college football for

NC State North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina sy ...

and is now an assistant coach. His uncle, Dré Bly, played for the

North Carolina Tar Heels The North Carolina Tar Heels (also Carolina Tar Heels) are the college sports in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to ...

and 11 years in the NFL. His brother Josh also played with the Tar Heels, and is now with the

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...

of the NFL.

References

External links

Ohio State Buckeyes profileAlabama Crimson Tide profile
Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state) People from Jackson County, Georgia American football defensive backs American football safeties Alabama Crimson Tide football players Ohio State Buckeyes football players {{defensiveback-stub