ATLANTA — Ohio State, like Georgia, was very familiar with talented safety Caleb Downs.
Both schools were among the finalists to land Downs when he was the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia in the 2023 recruiting cycle. He ended up picking Alabama, in large part because of Nick Saban.
But after Saban retired following Downs' exemplary freshman season — Downs was named the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award — Downs had another decision to make.
And the race to sign Downs was on.
"The second he went in," Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said on how quickly they began re-recruiting Downs.
Downs entered the transfer portal on Jan. 17, calling it, "one of the most difficult periods of my life.“
Georgia and Ohio State both had strong ties to Downs stemming from his high school recruitment. He won a state championship for Mill Creek High School and was the No. 1 safety in the country.
Prior to trying to land Downs again, Georgia added Travaris Robinson to its staff after he had previously coached Downs at Alabama.
Downs, in speaking to reporters ahead of Monday’s national championship game, admitted that Georgia was a very attractive school for him. With Javon Bullard having declared for the NFL draft, Georgia had a starting spot for Downs to walk into.
It could’ve paired him with Malaki Starks, another All-American safety.
“Georgia was a really big school for me, just because I grew up here,” Downs said. “And being really familiar with the coaching staff, Coach Kirby, (Will) Muschamp and T-Rob had just went there. So it was a really big opportunity to go there.”
But as it had in the high school recruitment, Georgia missed out on Downs.
He picked Ohio State on Jan. 20, with Ryan Day believing Downs' prior relationships with Ohio State players were a big reason why he landed in Columbus, Ohio.
“Really, I felt like God was calling me there,” Downs said on why he ended up at Ohio State. “He made the situation come to fruition. The Holy Spirit has brought me here to this day. And I pray for God, not for me.”
It’s hard to argue with the choice Downs made. He was a unanimous All-American this past season for the Buckeyes, finishing with 77 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups and a punt return for a touchdown in Ohio State’s win over Indiana.
He, like Bolden, Jackson and Starks, also made key plays for his team in a win over Texas. His just came in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
On second-and-goal in the fourth quarter with Ohio State clinging to a 21-14 lead, Downs knifed his way into the backfield and forced Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner into a seven-yard loss.
The play, which preceded Jack Sawyer’s game-winning strip-and-score, was similar to one he made against Georgia when he was a member of the Crimson Tide.
“He, Sark, has liked to do that for a while,” Downs said on the play. “Georgia ran that on us last year, too, and I jumped that play, too. So I feel like it’s just trust in the situation that’s there, belief in your eyes to go and pull the trigger.”
On the next Texas drive, Downs picked off a Quinn Ewers pass, sending Ohio State to Atlanta and giving Downs a chance to win a national championship.
As loaded as this Ohio State team is, it wouldn’t be in this position without Downs.
“One of the best players I’ve ever been around,” Sawyer said. “We joke around, he’s so smart. We call him the Co-DC. Sometimes it’s how smart he is. He sees things, and he just reacts so fast. He just brought that different element. He’s only a sophomore, but he’s got such a mature attitude. He’s like a veteran. And we’ve seen that since day one. We knew that Caleb was gonna be a great player. And he hadn’t been anything short of that.”
It’s fair to wonder if Georgia would be in this spot — facing Notre Dame in the national championship game — if it had Downs on its roster. Even with how well Starks, Jackson and Bolden all played in 2024.
He’s that much of a difference-maker. One Ohio State will have next season as well.
“I’m just so glad he’s been able to become a Buckeye,” Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka said.
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