2025 Football Roster
Caleb Downs
- Position:
- Safety
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 205
- Hometown:
- Hoschton, Ga.
- Last School:
- Mill Creek / Alabama
- Year:
- Junior
• True junior Caleb Downs was regarded by many as the No. 1 defensive player in America in 2025
• He had an outstanding, unanimous All-America season in 2025 as the AFCA, FWAA, Associated Press, Walter Camp and The Sporting News all named him to their first teams for the second consecutive year
• He is the sixth two-time, unanimous All-American at Ohio State following WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022-23), OT Orlando Pace (1995-96), RB Archie Griffin (1974-75), FB Bob Ferguson (1960-61) and RB Hopalong Cassady (1954-55).
• Ranked third on the team with 68 tackles and second with 45 solo tackles
• Also had five tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass break-ups and two forced fumbles
• A team captain who led the defense to No. 1 national rankings in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense, and No. 1 in rushing defense
• Won two national awards as a junior: the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy
• Also was named the Big Ten's Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and, for the second consecutive season, the Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year as well as first-team all-Big Ten
• His five national/Big Ten individual awards rank third in school history among defensive players behind six apiece for LB James Laurinaitis and DE Chase Young
• His five awards rank sixth all-time in Ohio State history behind Orlando Pace (eight), Archie Griffin (seven) and Eddie George (who is tied with Laurinaitis and Young with six)
• Ohio State's male nominee for the Big Ten Conference's Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award
• Concluded his three-year collegiate career with 44 starts, 257 tackles, 16 TFLs, six interceptions and an additional 11 PBUs for 17 total passes defended
• Caleb was a leader from the moment he arrived on campus in January 2024 and he was a major contributor to Ohio State's 2024 national championship run
• He ranked third on the team in tackles in 2024 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
• 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
• He is an OSU Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten honoree who was majoring in sports industry
Honors & Awards
2025: Thorpe Award winner, Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award, Unanimous first-team All-American, Big Ten Conference's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, all-Big Ten, Nagurski Award finalist, Academic All-Big Ten
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
• DOB: Dec. 10 2004
