Caleb Downs a Finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy
11/20/2025 10:41:00 AM | Football
Most outstanding defensive player award selected by the FWAA on behalf of the Charlotte TD Club
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Caleb Downs, the superb junior safety on Ohio State's No. 1 rated defensive unit, has been named a finalist for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America's All-America committee on behalf of the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
From the FWAA release announcing the finalists: A returning FWAA All-American at safety from a year ago, Downs needs little introduction here but continues to rack up additional postseason attention. A mainstay in the Buckeyes' secondary and always accounted for by opposing offenses, Downs is third on the Ohio State defense with 46 tackles on the season with 29 of them solo stops. He has 4.0 tackles for loss that are fifth on the team, two interceptions that are tied for the team lead, and a pass break-up.
For his career, including a year at Alabama and two years and 26 games at Ohio State, Downs has 235 career tackles, including 148 solo tackles, 15.0 TFLs, six interceptions, 14 pass break-ups and 20 total passes defensed. He has started all 40 games in which he has played.
Ohio State's 2025 defense is No. 1 nationally in 14 different statistics, including No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 2 in rushing defense and No. 2 in passing defense.
Joining Downs, from Hoschton, Ga., and Mill Creek H.S., as a finalist: Texas A&M DE Cashius Howell, Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore and Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez. The winner will be named Monday, Dec. 8, at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.
Ohio State has two previous Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners: defensive end Chase Young in 2019 and linebacker James Laurinaitis in 2006. Laurinaitis was also a finalist in 2007. Linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer was a finalist in 1997.
Ohio State's 2025 National Award *Finalists & Semifinalists
Bednarik Award – Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese
Biletnikoff Award – Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – *Caleb Downs
Butkus Award – Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Lombardi Award – Caden Curry, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Lott Impact Trophy – Caleb Downs
Maxwell Award – Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith
Davey O'Brien Award – Julian Sayin
Outland Trophy – Kayden McDonald
Thorpe Award – Caleb Downs
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year – Julian Sayin
Walter Camp Player of the Year – Caleb Downs, Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith
Finalists & Semifinalist Honors by Player
DE Caden Curry – Lombardi Award
SAF Caleb Downs – *Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Thorpe Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year
DT Kayden McDonald – Outland Trophy
LB Sonny Styles – Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
LB Arvell Reese – Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
QB Julian Sayin – Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year
WR Jeremiah Smith – Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year
WR Carnell Tate – Biletnikoff Award
*Finalist
