Caleb Downs is the Big Ten’s best defensive back.
The Ohio State safety was named Tuesday as the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, becoming the second Buckeye to win the award since it started in 2011.
to Caleb Downs, the 2024 Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year! #B1GFootball x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/4dZ4Z17yVS
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 3, 2024
Shaun Wade was Ohio State’s only previous recipient of the award, receiving Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year honors in 2020.
Downs wins the award after his first season at Ohio State following a transfer from Alabama. He became the immediate star of the Buckeyes’ defense in his first year at Ohio State, recording 62 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups as a crucial piece of Ohio State’s efforts in both pass coverage and run defense.
With Downs leading the way, Ohio State’s defense led all FBS teams during the regular season in both points (10.9) and yards (241.1) allowed per game.
Downs has a chance to add more hardware to his trophy case next week as he is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (college football’s best defensive back) and Chuck Bednarik Award (college football’s best defensive player), which will both be awarded during ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards show on Dec. 12 (9-11 p.m.).
