Although their offence was excellent, the Ohio State Buckeyes’ defence was the main driver of their recent victory, which was their first national title in ten years.
This past season, Ohio State had what is perhaps the most talented bunch of defenders in the nation, and several of them will be joining the NFL. But Caleb Downs, a safety, is one player who will return for 2025.
After 2023, Downs moved from Alabama, and going into his first season with the Buckeyes, he was surrounded by a lot of fanfare. He was referred to as the nation’s best safety by many.
The sophomore, who finished with 49 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and a few interceptions, didn’t exactly stand out for Ohio State in 2024. Good figures, but nothing noteworthy.
However, given that was placed 10th out of the top 101 players from the 2024 college football season by Pro Football Focus, Downs’ influence was evidently substantial. “Downs improved upon his incredible freshman year at Alabama and led Ohio State’s defence on its national championship run,” stated PFF.
“He was one of only two qualified safeties with 85.0-plus ratings in run defence and coverage, and his overall grade of 88.9 placed tenth among them. Downs is the top defensive player in college football going into 2025.
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