Tag: Caleb Downs

Sooners offer the nation’s top safety of the 2023 recruiting class, Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs, the consensus No. 1 safety in the 2023 class, received an offer from Oklahoma.

With national signing day quickly approaching on Feb. 2, Oklahoma’s 2022 signing class will officially be finished up soon. The Sooners have already signed 15 players and linebacker Jaren Kanak arrived on campus this weekend as well.

There’s been several transfer portal additions for Oklahoma, too, and OU isn’t done adding from the transfer portal.

Still, it’s just about time for the Sooners to turn their collective attention to the 2023 class.

Oklahoma has a pair of commitments in its 2023 recruiting class. Four-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. from Los Alamitos High School and three-star interior offensive lineman Joshua Bates out of Durango High School.

On Sunday morning, class of 2023 safety Caleb Downs announced he has received an offer from Oklahoma.

Downs is the consensus No. 1 safety nationally across each of the four major recruiting services. The 6-foot, 185 pound defensive back is regarded as one of the best players overall in the 2023 cycle.

247Sports ranks the Hoschton, Ga., native as its No. 8 player overall in 2023, On3 rates Downs No. 11, Rivals has him No. 24 and ESPN places Downs at No. 31 nationally.

In the On3 consensus rankings, the Mill Creek High School product is No. 9 nationally and he’s ranked No. 12 in the 247Sports composite rankings.

Caleb Downs’ Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247Sports 4 8 2 1
Rivals 4 24 3 1
ESPN 4 31 2 1
247 Composite 5 12 2 1
On3 Recruiting 5 11 2 1
On3 Consensus 5 9 2 1

Here’s what 247Sports’ Southeast recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins wrote about Downs in his scouting report.

An elite safety prospect and one that should star on Saturdays before eventually lacing up the cleats on Sundays. Simply moves different than others as he’s fluid in almost everything he does and always seems to be in control of his body. Plays with a vigorous demeanor and likes to hit people. Built like more of an in-the-box safety, but has the speed and range to cover the deepest parts of the field. Quick to trigger and react to what’s going on in front of him. Takes strong angles in run support, almost always arriving with the intentions of leveling someone. Uses leverage and his core strength to to drop ball carriers of all different sizes. Excels as a defensive back, but has also been featured as a running back and wide receiver at the high school level. Could honestly play both positions in college if he wanted to. Totaled 57 tackles, 14 pass break ups and four interceptions as a sophomore playing in the Peach State’s highest classification. Continued to make shine on both sides of the ball as a junior. Comes from a football family as his father was an NFL running back while his brother was an All-American wide receiver that signed with North Carolina. Should be viewed as a future impact player for a Top 25 program. – Ivins, 247Sports.

According to On3’s director of recruiting Chad Simmons, new Oklahoma cornerbacks coach Jay Valai had a strong relationship with Downs while he was at Alabama.

That’s a relationship that OU will be counting upon to win out against an offers list that includes a cluster of the country’s top programs. Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan and plenty of others are all in the mix for Downs.

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Highly touted prospects headed to Death Valley for Clemson-Boston College game

Clemson will again play host to some top prospects for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Boston College in Death Valley. Here are some of the bigger names The Clemson Insider has confirmed as planned visitors for the Clemson-BC game: A couple of …

Clemson will again play host to some top prospects for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against Boston College in Death Valley.

Here are some of the bigger names The Clemson Insider has confirmed as planned visitors for the Clemson-BC game:

A couple of headliners among the recruits expected to be in attendance are Thomspon (Alabaster, Ala.) five-star defensive lineman Peter Woods, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) four-star defensive back Caleb Downs and Auburn (Ala.) High School four-star center Bradyn Joiner.

Woods is the No. 4 defensive lineman and No. 17 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, which also tabs Downs as the No. 2 safety. Rivals ranks Joiner as the No. 1 center in the Class of 2023.

“They care for each player like they’re family,” Downs said of Clemson to TCI last month. “Everything you do, they want you to excel. They want to be there to help you with your ups and downs. It’s just a family there.”

A big-time receiver from North Carolina is slated to be on hand for Saturday’s game as well in Hickory Ridge (Harrisburg, N.C.) four-star Christian Hamilton, the No. 15 wideout and No. 93 overall prospect in the 2023 class, per the 247Sports Composite.

Clemson wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham recently came up to Harrisburg to watch Hamilton play, now the highly-touted wide receiver prospect is returning the favor this weekend. 

“What I’ve been hearing from Coach Grisham is that he thinks I’m an amazing player,” Hamilton told TCI. “He says just be patient with him because he doesn’t just throw out offers. He says (Clemson is) really, really close to offering me and also he wants me to keep in touch with him weekly.”

Among other notable Class of 2023 recruits on Clemson’s anticipated guestlist for Saturday’s contest are two Life Christain Academy (Colonial Heights, Va.) products in three-star offensive lineman Joshua Miller and four-star cornerback Antonio Cotman, Jr.

Miller picked up a Clemson offer back on Sept. 2 and is looking forward to getting back down to Tiger Town for Saturday’s marquee ACC matchup.

“I got a little bit of experience when I was there (in Charlotte), but it not really being a home game, I wasn’t able to get the full experience,” Miller told TCI earlier this month. “So, I’m excited to get down there to Clemson and actually see what an actual game day is like at their home stadium.”

As for Miller’s teammate and good friend, Cotman, he’s been feeling the love from Clemson cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and is looking forward to seeing how the vibe is in Death Valley at Memorial Stadium, he said.

Some other marquee names that will be in attendance from the 2023 class include Sumter (S.C.) 2023 four-star defensive lineman Monteque Rhames, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 2023 running back Jarvis Green and Pendleton (S.C.) 2023 offensive tackle, Aidan Leigh, who is the younger brother of Clemson true freshman offensive lineman Tristan Leigh.

Another name from the 2023 class that recently informed TCI of his incoming arrival is Katy (Tex.) running back Seth Davis, who was invited to the Clemson-BC game by Tigers’ running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

Last but certainly not least is Greenville (S.C.) 2022 tight end Josh Sapp, who is the son of former Clemson and NFL linebacker Patrick Sapp. TCI caught up with the Clemson target earlier this month on stop No. 1 during this season’s edition of The Tour of Champions.

He continues to build a relationship with Clemson offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Tony Elliott.

“Really just keeping in touch and checking up on each other,” Sapp said. “He and my dad have known each other for a while, so I kind of grew up knowing. It’s really just a cool relationship with him.”

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Texas offers the No. 1 safety in the nation for the 2023 cycle

Four-star safety Caleb Downs picks up an offer from Texas.

The Longhorns are now in the mix for the nation’s top safety prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. Continue reading “Texas offers the No. 1 safety in the nation for the 2023 cycle”

Nation’s top safety: Clemson ‘cares for each player like they’re family’

The nation’s top safety in the 2023 class has come away with a significant impression of Clemson. Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek four-star Caleb Downs recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding the latest on his current recruitment and where …

The nation’s top safety in the 2023 class has come away with a significant impression of Clemson.

Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek four-star Caleb Downs recently caught up with The Clemson Insider regarding the latest on his current recruitment and where Clemson currently stands. 

Downs (6-0, 185) is ranked as the No. 1 safety in the country and the No. 8 overall prospect regardless of position in the Class of 2023, per 247Sports’ recruiting rankings.

“They care for each player like they’re family,” Downs told TCI. “Everything you do, they want you to excel. They want to be there to help you with your ups and downs. It’s just a family there.

Downs came down to Clemson at the end of the summer and he’ll be going to the Georgia game come Sept. 4, just to see how the feel is, he said.

What has Downs been hearing from Clemson’s staff as of late?

“All good things,” he added. Both sides. Both ways.”

Downs has carved out relationships with several members of the Tigers’ coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Brent Venables, safeties coach Mickey Conn, defensive analyst DeAndre McDaniel, cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and last, but certainly not least, Dabo Swinney.

Clemson has put the full-court press on his recruitment.

“It’s very good,” Downs said regarding his relationship with Clemson’s staff. “Coach Conn and Coach Venables, I talk to them a lot, especially in-person when I come down there. They’re very friendly. Good to know them. Good to met them. They’re both great men and there’s much to learn from each of them.”

Downs has spent some time on Clemson’s campus and has had an opportunity to take in everything that the program has to offer.

“It’s a beautiful campus,” he said. “It’s a beautiful place to be. The facilities are top-notch. Not many schools can compete with that. They have a really good family feel there. You just feel at home.”

What’s the overall message that Clemson’s trying to get across in his recruitment?

“How easy I would fit in their defense with how versatile I am,” Downs added. 

Downs is a self-described excellent athlete, who is very instinctual and can read plays very easily. He trusts in his film study and his athleticism. If he sees a play, he’ll go for it.

For Mill Creek, Downs plays more of a defensive back role and he’s also utilized as an offensive weapon. While his interchangeability will certainly pay dividends at the next level, according to Downs, Clemson is primarily looking for him to be a safety at the next level.

As far as his recruitment is concerned, Downs is taking a patient approach. Right now, he wants to focus on his junior season. He also made it a point to say that he doesn’t want to rush into a decision right now and wants to let his recruitment continue to play out.

Downs still has some time before he needs to sit down and make a decision, but he’s already outlined some factors that are going to be important to him.

“A place that can develop me to be the best player that I can be on and off the field,” he said. “Someone that can develop me in the classroom, especially so I can get my degree as fast as possible. Somewhere with networking.”

In addition to Clemson, Downs mentions Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame and USC as schools that have been standing out for him thus far.

The plan for him is to see an Alabama game, take a gameday visit for Notre Dame’s Oct. 30 matchup against UNC, go to Ohio State in September and, obviously, Georgia is the in-state school.

Time to get the latest Clemson apparel to show your Tiger pride. Order your officially licensed Clemson gear right here!

Quick hitting Notre Dame football recruiting update

A quick look at some of the most recent offers and top lists from Notre Dame football prospects.

There has been plenty of offers being given out from the Notre Dame coaching staff in the 2022 and 2023 class.

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Here is a quick hitting update on some of the offers the Irish staff have given out and decisions by prospects in their recruitment the past few days.

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Georgia Bulldogs among top schools for Caleb Downs

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top schools for 2023 safety Caleb Downs, who has a deep football history in his family.

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top schools for 2023 safety Caleb Downs. Downs isn’t rated yet as a recruit on most websites and databases due to his younger age.

Downs plays high school football, baseball, and basketball for Mill Creek in Hoschtown, Georgia. He still has a long way to go in his recruitment, but has gone ahead and named an initial top schools list.

Downs’ father, Gary, played in the NFL and at North Carolina State. Gary is currently the running backs coach at East Tennessee State University. His brother, Josh is a freshman wide receiver at UNC. Josh came to UNC as a four star recruit.

Downs puts UGA, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, Michigan State, Kent State, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, NC State, Nebraska, UNC, and Kentucky in his top schools. His recruitment will be interesting to follow.

Will Downs go to his father’s school at NC State, potentially play with his brother for a season at UNC, or will he blaze his own path? We will continue to update you throughout his recruitment.

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MSU Football offers hot 2023 prospect Caleb Downs out of Georgia

Michigan State is one of many teams to offer 2023 prospect Caleb Downs in the last few weeks.

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College football recruiting has become a crazy part of the culture of American football. One thing about it that I always find fascinating is when a freshman or sophomore in high school gets an offer years ahead of his potential enrollment. Some of those prized prospects’ recruitment process can heat up a very young age if they have talent and pedigree, and that is the case with 2023 safety Caleb Downs, a safety out of Mill Creek who Michigan State offered on Tuesday.

Despite his youth and lack of ranking, the young defensive back has caught fire on the recruiting trail these past few weeks, receiving offers from teams like Georgia and LSU.

Caleb’s father is Gary Downs who played for NC State and went to the Super Bowl with the Atlanta Falcons in 1998. His brother Josh is signed by North Carolina.

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