BOOM
Minnesota transfer offensive tackle Phillip Daniels commits to Ohio State.
Caleb Downs is officially a unanimous All-American.
The Ohio State safety became the 34th different player in Ohio State history to earn unanimous All-American honors as he was named Wednesday as a first-team All-American by Sporting News.
Donovan Jackson also earned first-team All-American honors at guard from Sporting News while Seth McLaughlin was named a second-team All-American on the offensive line.
Downs becomes the fourth safety in Ohio State history to earn unanimous All-American honors, joining Malik Hooker (2016), Mike Doss (2002) and Jack Tatum (1970).
| Year | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CALEB DOWNS | SAFETY |
| 2023 | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2022 | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | WIDE RECEIVER |
| 2020 | WYATT DAVIS | GUARD |
| 2019 | CHASE YOUNG | DEFENSIVE END |
| 2019 | JEFF OKUDAH | CORNERBACK |
| 2017 | BILLY PRICE | CENTER |
| 2016 | PAT ELFLEIN | CENTER |
| 2016 | MALIK HOOKER | SAFETY |
| 2014 | JOEY BOSA | DEFENSIVE END |
| 2007 | JAMES LAURINAITIS | LINEBACKER |
| 2006 | TROY SMITH | QUARTERBACK |
| 2005 | A.J. HAWK | LINEBACKER |
| 2004 | MIKE NUGENT | KICKER |
| 2002 | MIKE DOSS | SAFETY |
| 1998 | ANTOINE WINFIELD | CORNERBACK |
| 1996 | ORLANDO PACE | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1995 | EDDIE GEORGE | RUNNING BACK |
| 1995 | ORLANDO PACE | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1987 | CHRIS SPIELMAN | LINEBACKER |
| 1987 | TOM TUPA | PUNTER |
| 1984 | KEITH BYARS | RUNNING BACK |
| 1977 | CHRIS WARD | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1975 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RUNNING BACK |
| 1974 | ARCHIE GRIFFIN | RUNNING BACK |
| 1973 | JOHN HICKS | GUARD |
| 1973 | RANDY GRADISHAR | LINEBACKER |
| 1970 | JACK TATUM | SAFETY |
| 1970 | JIM STILLWAGON | NOSE TACKLE |
| 1968 | DAVE FOLEY | OFFENSIVE TACKLE |
| 1961 | BOB FERGUSON | FULLBACK |
| 1960 | BOB FERGUSON | FULLBACK |
| 1956 | JIM PARKER | GUARD |
| 1955 | HOWARD "HOPALONG" CASSADY | HALFBACK |
| 1954 | HOWARD "HOPALONG" CASSADY | HALFBACK |
| 1950 | VIC JANOWICZ | HALFBACK |
| 1945 | WARREN AMLING | GUARD |
| 1944 | LES HORVATH | QUARTERBACK/HALFBACK |
| 1930 | WES FESLER | END |
Downs, who transferred to Ohio State after one year at Alabama, is the first-ever transfer to earn unanimous All-American honors for the Buckeyes. He and Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State’s other consensus All-American this year, are the first two transfers to earn consensus All-American honors for the Buckeyes.
Already considered to be the best safety in college football when he transferred to Ohio State, Downs has lived up to the hype in his first season as a Buckeye. He recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups during the regular season, leading the way for Ohio State’s defense to lead the country in both points and yards allowed per game with his excellence in both coverage and tackling. He also had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown against Indiana, Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown in 10 years.
Overall, Downs’ unanimous All-American season is the 39th in Ohio State history as five Buckeyes have earned the honor twice: Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022-23), Orlando Pace (1995-96), Archie Griffin (1974-75), Bob Ferguson (1960-61) and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1954-55). As a sophomore who is still a year away from being draft-eligible, Downs will have the chance to join that illustrious group if he performs up to expectations next season.
