Caleb Downs is still hoping the opportunity to play on offense for Ohio State this season.
After the Buckeyes completed practice on Tuesday, the team's safeties participated in press conferences on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center indoor practice field. There, a reporter asked Downs if he took Day's comments about him earning reps at running backs this season "seriously."
“I definitely take that serious,” the defensive back answered. “I mean, I feel like I’m an elite player with the ball in my hands. I would never not believe in myself to do something. I definitely believe that’s on the table."
Downs. who said his last running back snap came at the end of the summer, would look to receive “max 10 snaps a game” if Ohio State used him on offense this season. Though his opportunities would be limited, Downs thinks he could make an impact similar to the one Travis Hunter has made as a cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado.
"I have an idea of (what it takes) because of high school – I know it would be accelerated because it's college – but I have an idea of it because of high school, where I played a lot of plays each (week)," Downs said. "But Travis is doing that at an elite level. I don't think anybody has really done that in a while like him, so I commend him for that. I know how hard it is for him. But he's in great shape to do it."
In addition to potentially playing running back, Downs also addressed potentially returning punts for Ohio State in 2024. This preseason, Downs has practiced as a punt returner next to wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Brandon Inniss, Jayden Ballard, Bryson Rodgers, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.
“I’ve caught a lot of punts this camp," Downs said. "If (the coaches) give me the opportunity to do that, I’ll be happy to. If they give it to somebody else, I’ll wish them the best, and I’ll be behind them.”
“I feel like I’m an elite player with the ball in my hands. I would never not believe in myself to do something.”– Caleb Downs on potentially playing on offense
If Downs returns punts or gets in on offense at some point this season, Ohio State fans can expect the sophomore standout to have a one-track mind when he secures the football, as a singular word will occupy his brain.
"Score," he said.
