After Nick Saban announced his retirement, safety Caleb Downs has decided to enter the transfer portal after one year with the Crimson Tide.
Ohio State was very involved in the former five-star No. 1-ranked safety’s recruitment as a high school prospect in the class of 2023, finishing as the runner-up for Downs. It’s likely the Buckeyes will be involved in recruiting him this time around as well.
Georgia will also very likely be a player in the process since they also recruited him out of high school, and his position coach at Alabama in his one year in Tuscaloosa, Travaris Robinson, was hired as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Bulldogs.
As a true freshman, Downs played in all 14 games with Alabama, finishing the season with 107 tackles, 3 ½ for a loss, four passes broken up, and two interceptions, winning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award which goes to the best freshman in all of college football.
The Buckeyes have already landed one former Alabama player in the transfer portal this offseason with center Seth McLaughlin finding his way to Columbus, but with Josh Proctor leaving and Sonny Styles with the ability to play linebacker, there is a spot for Downs in the lineup with Ohio State next season.
