Ohio State reportedly set to meet with top transfer portal target, elite safety
Ohio State is expected to conduct an in-home visit with former Alabama safety Caleb Downs on Thursday, according to a report.
That’s per On3’s Pete Nakos, who notes that Georgia is the other team that’s involved in Downs’ recruitment.
Ohio State is traveling down to Georgia on Thursday to make an in-home visit with Alabama transfer defensive back Caleb Downs, sources tell @On3sports.
The No. 1 player in the transfer portal. Bulldogs are the other factor in his recruitment.
Read: https://t.co/hK0qeO9nRF pic.twitter.com/QSU1UiOt1a
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) January 18, 2024
Georgia has been considered the favorite to land Downs since he entered the transfer portal earlier this week. Downs is a Georgia native who picked Alabama coming out of high school over the Bulldogs and the Buckeyes.
Downs had a phenomenal freshman season at Alabama. He totaled 107 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 4 pass breakups. He’s widely-regarded as one of the top players to enter the transfer portal this offseason, regardless of position.
Georgia will likely be hard to overcome in Downs’ recruitment. In addition to being a Georgia native, Downs also has the opportunity to follow former Alabama cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson to Athens. Robinson is set to be the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for UGA this season.
If the Buckeyes are able to lure Downs to Columbus, he would be a massive addition for the Buckeyes. Ryan Day and his staff have been selective in the transfer portal so far this offseason, as they’ve only taken 4 transfers to this point in the cycle.