Overall

Caleb Downs is a versatile defensive back and one of the leaders on the talented Ohio State defense. He was used in a variety of different ways and alignments this past season to utilize his athleticism and instincts to maximize his play-to-play impact. He saw the majority of his snaps as a strong safety, working top to bottom allowing him to read and react to the ball as the play developed. While he is only a 3-year player, he has an enormous amount of experience, having started in every game of his college career. He spent his freshman season at Alabama and after coach Nick Saban retired he transferred to Ohio State. His accolades include being a 2-time All-American, National Champion, and 2025 Thorpe Award winner, given to the best defensive back in the country each season. He also has NFL bloodlines, as his brother Josh is a receiver for the Colts, and his uncle is Pro Bowler Dre Bly. His frame is compact, but he is a fluid athlete and easy mover on the field. His leadership is evident on and off the field, as he was a captain for the 2025 season.

Pass Game

Downs displays exceptional instincts and feel in coverage for a young player. His eyes are constantly in the right place allowing him to anticipate and feel out route combinations and play with proper leverage against his assignments. In zone coverage he plays with discipline to perform his job and knows when to bail from his assignment and rally to the football. He plays with good pad level to quickly drive and close on the ball in the air and can affect the catch point with physicality. In man coverage, he has the physicality to match with tight ends and foot speed to stay attached with wide receivers down the field.
He wasn’t asked to be a center fielder on top of the defense, and while he has sufficient range he isn’t a sideline-to-sideline roaming free safety. He lacks great length which can prevent him from disrupting the catch point, but he is a natural athlete who can track and play the ball in the air. Downs has natural ability to communicate and lead on the back end. He is always talking and making sure his teammates are aligned and on the same page pre-snap, and even post-snap you see him motioning and signaling to his teammates to pass routes off in coverage. His ability to disguise and hold his water before attacking downhill is remarkable as well.

Run Game

Downs plays with the desired physicality needed to defend the run. He has performed his duties at multiple alignments at a high level. He can attack downhill and fit against the run with physicality, and he will also run the alley with speed. He also can help set the edge and be a force player if asked as well. His instincts against the run are just as exceptional as they are in coverage. He knows when to attack downhill and has a magnet for finding the ball. As a tackler, he can come to balance and attack the ballcarrier with physicality. There are times when he can be aggressive working downhill, which can lead to misses in the open field. However, he is very productive as a tackler and can correct mistakes in game and week-to-week. His alignment versatility allows him to be a quality run defender in the slot, in the box, or as a deep safety.

Last Word

Downs projects to be a starting-level safety who can be aligned in a variety of ways to utilize his instincts and physicality. He can align as a Nickel defender in the slot who can play in coverage and fit against the run, with the ability to play as a deep safety in a scheme that lets him work top-down. He doesn’t display overwhelming athletic traits or length to his frame, but his instincts and ability to affect the game are valuable assets to add to any defense at the next level. On 3rd downs, he can play in man coverage on tight ends, blitz from depth, or patrol the intermediate areas of the field. He also is an experienced special teams player who even showed some playmaking ability as a returner.