John LeuzziUSA TODAY NETWORK
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Ohio State football made quite the splash in the transfer portal this past offseason when it picked up one of the country's top safeties from last season in Alabama transfer Caleb Downs.
Downs, who won SEC Newcomer of the Year last season, ranked tied for 39th in the country in total tackles (107) and was the No. 1 player in the portal per 247Sports — an addition to the Buckeyes' secondary that should excite fans heading into this season.
He now joins an Ohio State roster that once again has national championship expectations surrounding itself. Additionally, he will look to provide a spark to a Buckeyes defense that ranked 13th in the Big Ten and tied for 109th in the country in interceptions last season with seven. Downs ranked second at Alabama last year in interceptions with two.
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Downs was one of seven players to join the Buckeyes over the offseason — which 247Sports ranked as the No. 9 transfer class in the country and second best among all Big Ten programs, only behind new conference foe Oregon.
Here's what you need to know about what led Downs to transfer from Alabama to Ohio State this past offseason:
Why did Caleb Downs transfer from Alabama to Ohio State?
Downs entered the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 17, 2023 — seven days after Nick Saban announced his retirement and five after Kalen DeBoer was hired as Saban's successor at Alabama.
On top of Saban's departure — which caused quite a shock within college football, including among his players — Downs' decision to enter the transfer portal was likely also influenced by his position coach Travaris Robinson not being retained by DeBoer. Robinson took a position at Georgia, which was the presumed favorite for Downs.
Downs would end up committing to Ohio State on Jan. 20, 2023. Of the seven players who transferred to the Buckeyes this offseason, Downs was the highest-ranked player per 247Sports.
"Because his preparation is so high level, it challenges you as a coach to be an elite teacher because he is going to be on his game," Ohio State safety coach Matt Guerrieri said in April on what it is like to have a player like Downs on the roster. "It's like coaching a professional player, he understands the concepts and the game so well.
"He's put so much time into it. As a coach, you better be matching or equaling that right? ... It's been awesome to push each other, to make each other better. He's got a great understanding and feel of the game. He's a great young man. The work ethic is really high level. ... I can't say enough about who Caleb Downs is, it's been awesome."
As noted by The Tuscaloosa News, Downs said he received 102 calls from college programs in a seven-to-eight-hour period the first day he entered the transfer portal, and recruitment in the transfer portal was "on steroids."
Caleb Downs stats
Downs earned Freshman All-American honors last season at Alabama, where he became the first Crimson Tide freshman to lead the team in total tackles (99) in program history since at least 1970 per his Alabama profile page. Additionally, he earned All-SEC First Team and All-SEC Freshman Team honors last season.
Here's a look at Downs' stats from his freshman campaign at Alabama:
- Total tackles: 107
- Total solo tackles: 70
- Total passes deflected: Five
- Total interceptions: Two (one pick return TD)
- Total fumbles forced: One
- Total fumbled recovered: One
Caleb Downs 247Sports rankings
- As transfer: Five-star | No. 1 nationally ranked transfer | No. 1 ranked safety transfer
- As prospect: Five-star | No. 8 overall ranked player | No. 1 ranked safety | No. 1 ranked player in Georgia
The 6-foot safety was a highly touted player in the transfer portal as he was listed as a five-star recruit and the No. 1 nationally ranked player in the transfer portal according to his 247Sports Composite Rankings page. He was additionally ranked the No. 1 ranked safety in the portal.
Downs received similar ranking grades as a prospect, as 247Sports had him as a five-star recruit and the No. 8 nationally ranked player in the 2023 recruiting class. Additionally, he was ranked the No. 1 safety nationally in his class and the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia.
He chose Alabama over the likes of Ohio State, Georgia and Notre Dame coming out of high school.
