Caleb Downs Watch can begin in Columbus.
According to Jeremy Johnson of On3, the standout Alabama safety, who was heavily recruited by Ohio State as a high school prospect, plans to enter the transfer portal, setting up the possibility that the Buckeyes could bring Downs to Columbus after one year with the Crimson Tide.
REPORT: Alabama star DB Caleb Downs plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @JeremyO_Johnson.https://t.co/JgrxrCmBqT pic.twitter.com/tzAfwJSXne
— On3 (@On3sports) January 17, 2024
While the attempted courtship of Downs can officially begin when Downs enters the portal, there’s been plenty of speculation that Downs could transfer to Ohio State since Nick Saban announced his retirement last week. That speculation has been fueled by multiple Ohio State players following Downs on Instagram recently.
That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but there is legitimate reason to believe there could be mutual interest between Downs and Ohio State. The Buckeyes were the runner-up in his high school recruitment, and they should certainly take another shot at recruiting him now that he’s back on the market.
Another contender to land Downs, however, is Georgia. Downs is a Georgia native, and his position coach at Alabama last season, Travaris Robinson, was hired as Georgia’s new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. 247Sports’ John Talty reported Wednesday that “Georgia is the clear favorite” to land Downs when he enters the portal.
The No. 1-ranked safety in the 2023 recruiting class, Downs lived up to all the hype as a true freshman, winning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award as the best freshman in all of college football. He was named a second-team AP All-American after an exceptional season in which he led the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles, made two interceptions and four pass breakups, recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble and even returned a punt for a touchdown.
Should Downs wind up at Ohio State, he’d give the Buckeyes a plug-and-play replacement for Josh Proctor at free safety. With Lathan Ransom returning at strong safety and Jordan Hancock returning at nickel safety, that would clear a path for Sonny Styles to move to Will linebacker, addressing the two biggest positions of uncertainty on Ohio State’s 2024 defense as things currently stand.
Ohio State has already added one transfer from Alabama this offseason as former Crimson Tide center Seth McLaughlin committed to the Buckeyes earlier this month. The Buckeyes have also added former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and former Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek via the transfer portal.
