Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs is an American football safety for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He previously played for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year.

Early life
Downs attended Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia. Downs was the named the All-American Bowl Player of the Year as a senior. He was ranked as one of the top players in the 2023 college football recruiting class and considered the nation's No. 1 safety prospect. He was ranked No. 9 nationally by Rivals.com, No. 11 by ESPN and No. 8 by 247Sports. In July 2023, he was named Defensive Football Player of the Year by USA Today.

College career
Downs committed to Alabama on July 27, 2022. He chose Alabama over Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame and Ohio State. In his debut, he led the team in tackles with eight. At the conclusion of his freshman season Downs was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Following the retirement of Nick Saban, he transferred to Ohio State.

Personal life
Downs' father, Gary, played college football for NC State and is now an assistant coach. His uncle, Dré Bly, played for the North Carolina Tar Heels and 11 years in the NFL. His brother Josh also played with the Tar Heels, and is now with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL.