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Ohio State lands elite defender, former 5-star safety, via transfer portal

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Ohio State reportedly picked up an impact defender with Caleb Downs deciding on his playing future after one season at Alabama.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Downs is going to commit to Ohio State to play for Ryan Day’s program. The star freshman from 2023 was reportedly considering the Buckeyes alongside Kirby Smart’s Georgia program in the transfer portal.

Coming out of high school, Downs was a 5-star prospect out of Mill Creek High School in Georgia. The 247 Sports Composite rated Downs as the 6th best player in the country and the top recruit out of Georgia.

Once at Alabama, Downs appeared in all 14 games as a freshman, leading the Crimson Tide with 107 total tackles and 70 solo stops. He was dynamic throughout the season, rounding out his performance with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Downs was a major loss for new head coach Kalen DeBoer upon entering the portal, along with freshman lineman Kadyn Proctor. Proctor was another freshman starter for the Tide while serving as the team’s left tackle this season.

Impact on Ohio State

Downs is widely viewed as a 3-year player in college football. If he stays healthy, the star defensive back is already regarded as a likely first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and his presence should be a massive boost for Ryan Day’s program.

Ohio State also operates a safety-led defense under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Now, Downs provides an immediate plug-and-play difference-maker to roam the field for the Buckeyes.

Along with Downs’ decision, there are reports that 5-star quarterback Julian Sayin — the No. 1 QB for 2024 — is trending toward a transfer commitment to the Buckeyes.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.