COLUMBUS — Ohio State sophomore safety Caleb Downs has been named the Big Ten’s Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year. He has also earned First-Team All-Big Ten football honors.
Downs currently has 62 tackles on the season, with 6.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and one interception. Downs leads the Buckeyes with 34 solo tackles.
Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State after a Freshman All-American season at Alabama last year where he led the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles. He became the first true freshman in school history to lead Alabama in tackles.
Downs also a punt return touchdown this season for the Buckeyes.
Downs originally signed with Alabama, with Ohio State finishing second in his recruitment. When Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban retired following the 2023 season, Downs entered the transfer portal and quickly settled on joining the Buckeyes.
Downs is the first Buckeye to win this award (which originated in 2011) since cornerback Shaun Wade earned the honor in 2020. Downs is now just the second Ohio State defensive back to win the award, though Buckeye legacy Antoine Winfield, Jr. did win it as a Minnesota Golden Gopher in 2019.
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