Caleb Downs has been one of the best defenders in college football each of the past two seasons for Ohio State. In less than a month, he could be named the best.
Downs was named Thursday as one of four finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best defensive player in the NCAA. He joins Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez on the list of finalists.
The third and very likely final campaign of Downs’ college football career has been another monstrous one. In 10 games, he has 46 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions and a pass breakup. Targeted 32 times in the passing game per Pro Football Focus, Downs has allowed just 134 receiving yards, an average of 4.2 yards per target. The worst yards-per-attempt passing offense in the country, UMass, averages 4.6.
Downs has been deployed all over the field again this season for Ohio State, seeing 173 snaps at free safety, 156 snaps in the box and 103 in the slot this year, according to PFF. The most versatile and dynamic weapon in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s secondary, Downs is the backbone of the nation’s No. 1 defense in yards allowed per pass attempt (5.1). The Buckeyes are also No. 1 in scoring defense (7.5 points allowed per game) and total defense (212.6 yards allowed per game).
A unanimous All-American and a finalist for the Thorpe Award, which goes to the best defensive back in college football, in 2024, Downs will find out whether he wins the Nagurski – and likely the Thorpe, whose 2025 finalists have not been named yet – during the College Football Awards show on Dec. 12.