Alabama Crimson Tide star safety Caleb Downs is starting the process of entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Downs’ decision to enter the transfer portal comes a week after legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement.
In his first season with the Crimson Tide, Downs became one of the best safeties in the nation. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year.
Downs also earned first-team All-SEC honors and first-team All-American honors from Pro Football Focus.
The safety led his team in tackles as a freshman. Downs totaled 107 tackles with 3.5 TFLs, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble last season.
Source: Alabama freshman All-American safety Caleb Downs is starting the process of entering the NCAA transfer portal. He was one of the country’s top freshman in 2023 and looms as a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/u7Fe9bLxSD
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 17, 2024
Downs joins several other Alabama players who have entered the transfer portal following Saban’s decision to retire. Dezz Ricks, a former top defensive back recruit from the same recruiting class as Downs committed to Texas A&M, and wide receiver Isaiah Bond recently committed to Texas.
Alabama’s new head coach Kalen DeBoer was named the successor to Saban on Jan. 12. DeBoer will look to replace the talent entering the portal from the Crimson Tide.