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From starting as a true freshman for Nick Saban at Alabama to winning a national championship at Ohio State, Caleb Downs left a lasting impact during his college football career.
Here’s what you need to know about Caleb Downs’ college career.
The vitals on Caleb Downs
School: Alabama/Ohio State
Position: Safety
Height: 6-0
Weight:Â 206 pounds
Years active: 2023-25
Here are Caleb Downs’ career stats from college:
Year
Games
Solo tackles
Assisted tack.
Total
TFL
Sacks
INT
PD
FF
FR
Punt Ret TD
2023
(Alabama)
14
70
37
107
3.5
0
2
5
1
1
1
2024
(Ohio State)
16
48
33
81
7.5
0.5
2
8
0
0
1
2025
(Ohio State)
14
45
23
68
5
1
2
3
2
0
0
Career
44
163
93
256
16
1.5
6
16
3
1
2
Where did Caleb Downs go to college?
Caleb Downs a native of Hoschton, Georgia, attended Alabama out of high school. Per 247Sports, Downs signed with Alabama over offers that included Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and more. After one season at Alabama — Nick Saban’s retirement — Downs transferred to Ohio State in 2024.
What kind of prospect was Caleb Downs in high school?
Caleb Downs was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball at Mill Creek High School. He was five-star recruit and as one of the top prospects in the country, stemming from an athletic family that featured a father, brother and uncle that all played in the NFL. Downs ranked as high as the No. 6 overall prospect, the No. 1 safety in the class of 2023 and the No. 1 player in Georgia, depending on the recruiting service.
Caleb Downs finished his senior year with 66 tackles, five interceptions, one sack, and one fumble recovery while adding 334 rushing yards and 370 passing yards on offense. As a junior he filled up the stat sheet with four rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns, two interception returns for touchdowns, one kickoff return for a touchdown and one touchdown pass. He also had 77 tackles, 11 pass breakups and five interceptions during his junior season en-route to being named a MaxPreps Junior All-American and named the Region 8-AAAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Downs earned Sophomore All-America honors from MaxPreps after rushing for 175 yards and three touchdowns  which catching two passes for 61 yards and a touchdown on offense PLUS making 57 tackles with four interceptions on defense. As a true freshman, Downs led Mill Creek’s varsity team with five interceptions.
Downs also competed in the all-star camp circuit, earning an invite to the All-American Bowl.
What was Caleb Downs’ record in college?
Caleb Downs played in every game during his college career, finishing with a combined 38-6 record across two schools. As a freshman, Downs helped Alabama to an SEC title and a College Football Playoff appearance in the Rose Bowl. As a sophomore, Downs led Ohio State to a CFP national title. As a junior, Downs finished his career in the CFP quarterfinals.
Records set by Caleb Downs
Here are some of the notable records and statistical rankings set by Caleb Downs in college:
1st in Alabama freshman to lead team in tackles since 1970 (107)
3rd in Ohio State total national/Big Ten awards won by a defensive player (5)
6th in Ohio State total national/Big Ten awards won by a player (5)
Which awards did Caleb Downs win in college?
Here are the awards and honors Caleb Downs won in college:
Thorpe Award winner (2025)
Lott IMPACT Trophy winner (2025)
Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award (2025)
Unanimous First-Team All-American (2025)
Big Ten Conference’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year (2025)
Big Ten Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
First Team All-Big Ten (2025)
Nagurski Award finalist (2025)
Academic All-Big Ten (2025)
Unanimous First Team All-American (2024)
Big Ten Conference’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year (2024)
First Team All-Big Ten (2024)
Thorpe Award finalist (2024)
Nagurski Award finalist (2024)
Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist (2024)
Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year (2023)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2023)
SEC Newcomer of the Year (2023)
Freshman All-American by FWAA (2023)
First Team All-American by PFF (2023)
Second Team All-American by AP, Sporting News, USA Today (2023)
First Team All-SEC by coaches (2023)
Freshman All-SEC (2023)
Second Team All-SEC by AP (2023)
See more Caleb Downs highlights below
Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as a college football, FCS football, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men’s Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the College Football Playoff and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl, MEAC/SWAC Challenge and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.
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