ESPN’s latest rankings just named Ohio State’s Caleb Downs the No. 1 defensive back after a season full of standout stats and lockdown plays.
ESPN Crowns Caleb Downs as Nation’s Best After Huge Season at Ohio State
They don’t often make safeties like the Ohio State Buckeyes’ Downs. The unanimous All-American transferred in from Alabama last offseason and immediately impacted Ryan Day’s squad, which marched to a College Football Playoff national title.
Downs also earned the Big Ten’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award and was named an all-conference honoree. He was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and the Nagurski Award, which wound up going to Texas’s Jahdae Barron and South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard, respectively.
Downs ranked third in tackles (82), including an Ohio State personal best 11 against bitter rival Michigan. He also put up a pair of interceptions and six pass break-ups.
His impact wasn’t limited to the defensive side of the ball. Downs brought back six punts, averaging 16.3 yards per. He notched the Buckeyes’ first punt return for a touchdown in 10 years at home against No. 5 Indiana, a 79-yard jaunt. At that point, his team was up one touchdown early in the second half.
The highlight play saw Downs pull in a dribbling kick, spin out of a Hoosiers tackle, and race up the right sideline before cutting it back into the middle of the field. He threw up a peace sign as he sauntered into the end zone. It was the second punt return for a touchdown of Downs’ career, as he’d done so as a freshman with Alabama the season before.
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has high praise for Downs, saying, “He was the best, most impactful player on the defense that won the national championship. He’s a ball hawk, smart, physical, and all over the field. I love Caleb Downs. He is the best defender in the nation.”
KEEP READING: Top Returning Players to the Big Ten in 2025: Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Smith Headline
Before arriving in Columbus, Downs was the first-ever freshman to lead the Crimson Tide in tackles, registering 107 total takedowns. He also posted a pair of interceptions, five passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He brought home the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award for the impressive campaign.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
