Ohio State safety Downs could play a role on offense in 2024

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one heck of a player. He, of course, hasn’t shown that yet in a game for the Buckeyes, but the resume he built as a freshman at Alabama last season is more than impressive.

Earning a spot as Nick Saban’s starting strong safety as a true freshman, he was the SEC freshman of the year after totaling 107 tackles (70 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Downs transferred to OSU when Saban retired, much to the benefit of the Buckeyes.

He’s expected to be a cornerstone piece for Ohio State’s defense in 2024, but per head coach Ryan Day, Downs could get a look on the offensive side of the ball as well.

“Day said ‘we’ll see’ when asked if Caleb Downs can play running back at this level — they talked about it during the recruiting process the first time around and some the second time around when Downs was in the portal,” Letterman Row reported, passing on notes from a recent news conference. “Day said Downs did very little at running back in the spring. They pitched him an option here and there.”

It’s worth pointing out there that Downs was a phenomenal all-around athlete in high school, recording 334 rush yards and 370 pass yards as a senior while also contributing 66 tackles, five interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery as a safety on defense.

He was also a punt returner for the Crimson Tide in 2023, returning four punts for 87 yards and a touchdown.