‘Team to Watch’: Ohio State seeks five-star Alabama transfer Caleb Downs: Report
According to reports, the Ohio State Buckeyes are one of two teams that might win the portal’s top player competition. Ohio State and Georgia are reportedly in a two-team race for Alabama defensive back transfer Caleb Downs, who just signed through the transfer portal on Wednesday, according to sources from On3. Only five players on the list have a five-star ranking, including the Hoschton, Georgia native who is ranked as the top overall player in 247Sports’ transfer rankings.
Prior to Downs selecting the Tide, the Buckeyes were a finalist for his recruitment in the 2023 class. Though he is merely one of several Alabama players to have entered the portal following Nick Saban’s retirement, he may be the greatest of them all. This past year, in his first year of college, he recorded 107 total tackles (70 solo), one forced fumble, three interceptions, and three passes defensed. With four punt returns for 87 yards and a touchdown, he was also a threat on special teams. His only productive return was an 85-yarder that led to a touchdown in Alabama’s victory over Chattanooga.
As a rookie, he lived up to his five-star billing, and things will only get better from here. Regretfully for Ohio State, On3’s report suggests that Georgia has the “upper hand” on Downs; but, anything may happen in the interim until he makes his announcement.
The Buckeyes would gain a top-tier playmaker for their defense and special teams if Downs decides to attend school there. In order to recover from what the program and its supporters would consider a poor season, Ohio State will require all the talent it can get this offseason.