PITTSBURGH – Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was selected 11th overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night by the Dallas Cowboys. Overall, the Buckeyes now have 99 first-round selections in program history, the most all time, and 20 first-round picks in the Ryan Day era (2019-present). 

Downs’ selection marked the highest an Ohio State safety was drafted since Malik Hooker went 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015. Additionally, he became the first safety in the Ryan Day Era (2019-Present) to be selected in the top 13 picks of the NFL Draft.  

His selection is tied for the highest a safety has been drafted since 2017, as Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick was taken 11th as well in 2018 by the Dolphins. 

Overall, with Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Downs all taken by the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Ohio State became the first program since the NFL merger to accomplish that feat (1967: Michigan State – 4).  

The Buckeyes have now had 68 defensive backs taken in the NFL Draft, which is the most all time. 

Finally, since Ryan Day officially was named Ohio State’s head coach on Dec. 4, 2018, Ohio State has had 21 alumni declare for the NFL Draft early and forgo their final year of eligibility and all of them have been drafted with 14 being picked in the first round.  


Carnell Tate, 4th Overall, Round 1 – Tennessee Titans 



Caleb Downs, 11th Overall, Round 1 – Dallas Cowboys  


What They’re Saying: 


Head Coach Ryan Day:
“The Cowboys are getting a special player in Caleb Downs. Caleb has elite instincts, range, and football intelligence, but what separates him is how he commands the defense and elevates everyone around him. He is a true field general who prepares the right way, communicates at a high level and plays with confidence. He will make an immediate impact in Dallas.” 

 
Charles Davis (NFL Network):
“Caleb Downs will patrol the secondary, organize the secondary, and he can wear the green dot. The entire defense. He’ll be up there teaching everyone new that comes there after two days of mini camp when he gets to Dallas. But the other part of it too is that the Cowboys have a tradition of these guys in the secondary, The Darren Woodson’s, right, the Roy Williams. The last time they took their safety in the first round, 2002 and it was Roy Williams. They need to get back to that type of football with Caleb Downs.”

 
Joel Klatt (FOX)
“They rebuilt the defense at Ohio State around Caleb Downs. That’s the type of talent he has. All those great players, and built the entire structure of that scheme around Caleb Downs. He’s so versatile, he’s so smart. They did that just two years ago on their route to a National Championship. They revamped that defense after a loss to Oregon, putting him in the center of the field. Allow those instincts to take over. He can patrol the middle of the field as well as anybody in college football. There he is playing free safety against Texas a couple of years ago. How about him triggering on this ball before anyone else is moving, creating turnovers for his teammates. He’s terrific in run support. I said he triggers faster than anybody on the defense, partly because of his preparation. Legendary Monday nights with Matt Patricia in preparations. He’s an alley filler and he can blitz. This is where I thought he was most dynamic. He had the ability to get in the backfield and make production tackles, and that’s what he did for a long time at two really great programs, Alabama and Ohio State.” 

Cowboys – Buckeyes Connection: 

Dallas has now drafted 15 Buckeyes, most recently selecting Mike Weber in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In addition, Downs joins Ezekiel Elliott (2016) as the most recent Dallas first round draft picks from Ohio State. 

Caleb Downs – Dallas Cowboys, 1st Round (No. 11 Overall) 


He had an outstanding, unanimous All-America season in 2025 as the AFCA, FWAA, Associated Press, Walter Camp and The Sporting News all named him to their first teams for the second consecutive year 



He is the sixth two-time, unanimous All-American at Ohio State following WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022-23), OT Orlando Pace (1995-96), RB Archie Griffin (1974-75), FB Bob Ferguson (1960-61) and RB Hopalong Cassady (1954-55). 



A team captain who led the defense to No. 1 national rankings in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense, and No. 1 in rushing defense.  



Also was named the Big Ten’s Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and, for the second consecutive season, the Big Ten’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year as well as first-team All-Big Ten 



Concluded his three-year collegiate career with 44 starts, 257 tackles, 16 TFLs, six interceptions and an additional 11 PBUs for 17 total passes defended. 



2025: Thorpe Award winner, Lott IMPACT Trophy winner, Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award, Unanimous first-team All-American, Big Ten Conference’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten, Nagurski Award finalist, Academic All-Big Ten. 



2024: Unanimous first-team All-American, Big Ten Conference’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year, All-Big Ten, Thorpe Award finalist, Nagurski Award finalist, Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist, OSU Scholar-Athlete. 



2023 (at Alabama): Shaun Alexander national freshman of the year, first-team All-American (Pro Football Focus), SEC Freshman of the Year, All-SEC, Freshman All-SEC.