Caleb Downs - Ohio State (S)
Measurables
Height - 6'0"
Weight - 206 lbs
Arm - 30 1/4"
Hand - 9 1/2"
Prospect Overview
Downs won the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award at Alabama in 2023 before transferring to Ohio State, where he won back-to-back Big Team Defensive Back of the Year Awards and was First-team Associated Press All American in both 2024 and 2025. He won Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the Jim Thorpe Award for nation's top defensive back this past season and was a finalist for nation's top defender. Downs's brother, Josh is a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.
Rankings and Analysis
Pro Football Focus: No. 8 overall (No. 1 S)"Downs lacks elite size or athletic traits, but his football IQ is exceptional. That gives him a high floor and ceiling, with All-Pro potential in a versatile defensive role."
NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah Top 50): No. 9 overall (No. 1 S)
"Downs is a versatile safety prospect with outstanding instincts and intangibles. He moved around in Ohio State's scheme but primarily lined up underneath as a nickel, strong safety or nickel 'backer. In the passing game, he is a smooth mover and utilizes his eyes/instincts to close and limit windows. He's physical and has enough speed to mirror tight ends in man coverage… Overall, Downs lacks "wow" traits, but he's a plug-and-play starter who makes others better around him."
ESPN: No. 6 overall (No. 1 S)
"Downs has outstanding instincts and football aptitude. He's a versatile defender who can play near the line of scrimmage or in the back half, and he's sound against both the run and pass. He is adept at reading the quarterback's eyes while roaming in zone coverage, and his instincts show up as a pass defender, where he can play tight man coverage from the nickel position or patrol the back half in zone."