2024 Football Roster
Downs, Caleb
Jersey Number 2
Caleb Downs
- Position:
- Safety
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 205
- Hometown:
- Hoschton, Ga.
- Last School:
- Mill Creek / Alabama
- Year:
- Sophomore
Bio
Ohio State Overview
• True junior Caleb Downs will be widely regarded as the No. 1 defensive player in America in 2025 and as such will be a candidate for the Heisman Trophy
• He will also be watched and considered for every defensive national award this year, including the Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagursk Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, while also vying for the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, respectively
• Caleb was a leader from the moment he arrived on campus in January 2024 and a major contributor to Ohio State's 2024 national championship run
• He ranked third on the team in tackles with 82 and also contributed eight total passes defensed - two interceptions ... vs. Michigan and vs. Texas in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl - and six pass break-ups
• In addition to his interception, he had his Ohio State personal best of 11 tackles vs. Michigan
• He returned six punts on the season for a 16.3 yard average, including a 79-yard touchdown vs. No. 5 Indiana for Ohio State's first punt return TD in 10 years
• Ranked second on the team with 49 solo tackles with a high of five in the regular season vs. Oregon and also vs. Notre Dame in the CFP championship game
• Was named Ohio State's 39th unanimous All-American as the AFCA, FWAA, Associated Press, Walter Camp and The Sporting News all named him to their first teams
• Was named the Big Ten Conference's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and a first-team all-Big Ten pick by both the coaches and media
• A finalist for the Thorpe and Nagurski awards, and also the Lott IMPACT Trophy
• Enters the 2025 season with 189 career tackles - over six per game, on average - and 14 passes defended (four interceptions and nine pass break-ups) plus 11.0 tackles-for-loss
• He is an OSU Scholar-Athlete majoring in sports industry
Honors & Awards
2024: Unanimous first-team All-American, Big Ten Conference's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, all-Big Ten, Thorpe Award finalist, Nagurski Award finalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist, OSU Scholar-Athlete
2023 (at Alabama): Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year, first-team All-American (Pro Football Focus), SEC Freshman of the Year, All-SEC, Freshman All-SEC
More on Caleb
• Caleb joined the Ohio State football program from the transfer portal in January, 2024
• He was the undisputed No. 1 player in the portal after a decorated and outstanding true freshman campaign at Alabama in 2023
• Became the first Alabama freshman to lead the team in tackles in program history, totaling 107 total stops with 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, five passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2023
• Named the Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year and earned first team All-American honors by Pro Football Focus
• Garnered second team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and The Sporting News
• Selected as the SEC Freshman of the Year by the conference coaches and added first team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC accolades
• Also recognized as the SEC Newcomer of the Year and a second team All-SEC honoree by the Associated Press.
• Ranked fourth in the SEC in total tackles
• The son of Tanya and Gary Downs
• Father was a running back for the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons
• Has one sister, Kameron, who is in medical school at Wake Forest, and an older brother, Josh, who is with the Indianapolis Colts
• Uncle, Dre Bly, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection at cornerback and a Super Bowl XXXIV champion
• True junior Caleb Downs will be widely regarded as the No. 1 defensive player in America in 2025 and as such will be a candidate for the Heisman Trophy
• He will also be watched and considered for every defensive national award this year, including the Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagursk Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, while also vying for the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, respectively
• Caleb was a leader from the moment he arrived on campus in January 2024 and a major contributor to Ohio State's 2024 national championship run
• He ranked third on the team in tackles with 82 and also contributed eight total passes defensed - two interceptions ... vs. Michigan and vs. Texas in the CFP semifinals at the Cotton Bowl - and six pass break-ups
• In addition to his interception, he had his Ohio State personal best of 11 tackles vs. Michigan
• He returned six punts on the season for a 16.3 yard average, including a 79-yard touchdown vs. No. 5 Indiana for Ohio State's first punt return TD in 10 years
• Ranked second on the team with 49 solo tackles with a high of five in the regular season vs. Oregon and also vs. Notre Dame in the CFP championship game
• Was named Ohio State's 39th unanimous All-American as the AFCA, FWAA, Associated Press, Walter Camp and The Sporting News all named him to their first teams
• Was named the Big Ten Conference's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and a first-team all-Big Ten pick by both the coaches and media
• A finalist for the Thorpe and Nagurski awards, and also the Lott IMPACT Trophy
• Enters the 2025 season with 189 career tackles - over six per game, on average - and 14 passes defended (four interceptions and nine pass break-ups) plus 11.0 tackles-for-loss
• He is an OSU Scholar-Athlete majoring in sports industry
Honors & Awards
2024: Unanimous first-team All-American, Big Ten Conference's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, all-Big Ten, Thorpe Award finalist, Nagurski Award finalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist, OSU Scholar-Athlete
2023 (at Alabama): Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year, first-team All-American (Pro Football Focus), SEC Freshman of the Year, All-SEC, Freshman All-SEC
More on Caleb
• Caleb joined the Ohio State football program from the transfer portal in January, 2024
• He was the undisputed No. 1 player in the portal after a decorated and outstanding true freshman campaign at Alabama in 2023
• Became the first Alabama freshman to lead the team in tackles in program history, totaling 107 total stops with 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, five passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2023
• Named the Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year and earned first team All-American honors by Pro Football Focus
• Garnered second team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and The Sporting News
• Selected as the SEC Freshman of the Year by the conference coaches and added first team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC accolades
• Also recognized as the SEC Newcomer of the Year and a second team All-SEC honoree by the Associated Press.
• Ranked fourth in the SEC in total tackles
• The son of Tanya and Gary Downs
• Father was a running back for the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons
• Has one sister, Kameron, who is in medical school at Wake Forest, and an older brother, Josh, who is with the Indianapolis Colts
• Uncle, Dre Bly, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection at cornerback and a Super Bowl XXXIV champion
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