Caleb Downs is now a consensus All-American.
Already a Walter Camp Football Foundation and American Football Coaches Association All-American, Downs added first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press on Monday. While Downs is the lone Ohio State representative on the first team, Jeremiah Smith, Seth McLaughlin and Donovan Jackson appeared on the second team while Lathan Ransom appeared on the third team.
Downs was Ohio State’s top defender in the regular season, collecting 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups while becoming a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award. He also became the first Buckeye to record a punt return touchdown since 2014 when he made a 79-yard house call in the team’s 38-15 win over Indiana.
CALEB DOWNS TO THE HOUSE @OhioStateFB starts the second half with a bang pic.twitter.com/XT4Wrax5CI
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024
Downs becomes Ohio State’s 56th consensus All-American all-time. He is the seventh Buckeye to accomplish the feat in Ryan Day’s tenure, following Jeff Okudah (unanimous, 2019), Chase Young (unanimous, 2019), Shaun Wade (consensus, 2020), Wyatt Davis (unanimous, 2020), Paris Johnson (consensus, 2022) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (unanimous, 2022 and 2023).
Downs would become a unanimous All-American if he earns first-team honors from the FWAA and Sporting News. Those teams will be released on Tuesday (FWAA) and Sporting News (Wednesday).
The Rimington Trophy winner and a Walter Camp and AFCA first-team All-American, McLaughlin received second-team honors from the AP as reporters favored Florida center Jake Slaughter over him. Nick Nash (San Jose State), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Xavier Restrepo (Miami) were the wide receivers to earn first-team honors over Smith, and Addison West (Western Michigan) and Willie Lampkin (North Carolina) were the guards to receive first-team honors over Jackson.
Ransom took home third-team honors at safety after first-teamers Downs and Xavier Watts (Notre Dame) and second-teamers Malaki Starks (Georgia) and Malachi Moore (Alabama).
