Tag: Caleb Downs

Georgia, Texas and Ohio State emerge as 2024 favorites through portal

Georgia, Ohio State and Texas are separating from the pack through the transfer portal.

There are three clear cut title favorites following transfer portal additions and the retirement of Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Texas is one of them.

Georgia, Ohio State and Texas have emerged as teams who command the most respect out of the initial portal window and extended portal opening at Alabama.

Georgia has the benefit of the doubt after several top five recruiting classes and a return from productive quarterback Carson Beck. The Bulldogs have also added two of the top 10 receivers in the transfer portal. Nevertheless, it’s the team’s 42-2 record over the last three seasons and national titles in 2021 and 2022 that make the strongest case for the team.

The less obvious two of the three contenders became obvious after portal upgrades. Texas and Ohio State joined Georgia after taking over the transfer portal in their own right.

Ohio State just won out for Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs in a battle with Georgia. The return of Emeka Egbuka at receiver paired with the addition of Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins have many excited about the team.

Texas has become a title contender in its own right after replacing its strong receiving corps with big time transfers in Alabama receiver Isaiah Bond, Alabama tight end Amari Niblack, Houston receiver Matthew Golden and Oregon State receiver Silas Bolden.

On defense, Texas added Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba, UTSA edge Trey Moore and Alabama linebacker Kendrick Blackshire.

For the Longhorns, it’s what the team returns that provides the foundation for a title contender. The players they return took the team to the College Football Playoff and a 12-2 record. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers is primed for a strong campaign behind an offensive line that returns 80% of its starters.

Outside of the above three, many saw Michigan and Alabama rising back into contention. Following the retirement of Nick Saban and with a potential departure of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh both teams have coaching question marks. It doesn’t help that both teams return seven starters or less from a season ago.

Oregon stands as a potential contender in its own right though it is less heralded. That said, the Ducks will have questions of their own moving into the Big Ten conference and without starting quarterback Bo Nix.

Texas, Ohio State and Georgia are becoming clear cut favorites to compete for a national title in 2024 as rosters begin to solidify. It sets the stage for an eventful spring in Austin capped by what should be an informative spring game.

The Longhorns’ next significant on-field action will take place in the Orange-White game on April 20.

Ohio State continues to add with commitment from Caleb Downs

Ryan Day is continuing to stock up for the 2024 season.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are hitting the recruiting trail hard with so many talented players entering the portal, thanks in large part to the recent coaching moves.

Most recently, the Buckeyes and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles added to their unit with the addition of former five-star safety Caleb Downs. He made his decision on Friday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Downs was one of many talented players on the SEC champion Alabama Crimson Tide roster to enter the portal following the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban. In his first year with the program, Downs played in 14 games with 2 interceptions to go along with his 107 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Downs was rated as the No. 6 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class and the top player from the state of Georgia. He was also rated as the No. 1 player in the transfer portal. Many believed he was Georgia-bound but instead he opted to join the Buckeyes.

Ohio State is also projected to land the top quarterback from the 2024 recruiting class, Julian Sayin. Safe to say that The Ohio State Buckeyes are thriving in the portal at the moment. They still have plenty of work to do given they have lost 19 players to the portal. Of the 19, 16 are still available to withdraw just as wide receiver Bryson Rodgers has. Three are already enrolled at other schools.

Here is the running list of commitments at the moment:

  • Caleb Downs, Safety (Alabama)
  • Quinshon Judkins, Running Back (Ole Miss)
  • Seth McLaughlin, Offensive Line (Alabama)
  • Will Kacmarek, Tight End (Ohio)
  • Will Howard, Quarterback (Kansas State)

Check out Buckeyes Wire for more on Ohio State

Social media reacts: Alabama transfer Caleb Downs picks Ohio State over Georgia

Georgia football fans react as the No. 1 player in the transfer portal, Alabama safety Caleb Downs, picks Ohio State over UGA

Alabama Crimson Tide safety Caleb Downs committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes over the Georgia Bulldogs. Downs is ranked as the top player in the NCAA transfer portal. The former five-star recruit elected to enter the transfer portal after Nick Saban announced his retirement.

Downs’ commitment to Ohio State is a massive recruiting disappointment and shock for Georgia. Georgia football insiders considered the Dawgs to be the favorites to land the coveted transfer.

Head coach Kirby Smart and Georgia hired former Alabama cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson as the Dawgs’ new co-defensive coordinator, which should’ve aided the Bulldogs’ pursuit of Downs. Downs is a former elite recruit from Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia.

Ohio State has made a massive splash in the transfer portal this winter. The Buckeyes have accumulated a significant amount of talent as they push to return to the College Football Playoff.

Downs was a first-team All-SEC selection for his impressive 2023 campaign. The standout safety recorded 107 total tackles, three deflections and two interceptions as he contributed to Alabama winning the SEC championship.

How did Georgia football fans and media react after Downs committed to Ohio State? How did Ohio State respond to getting a big recruiting win?

Social media reacts to Caleb Downs Ohio State commitment

Social media explodes with the news of Caleb Downs to Ohio State! #GoBucks

Anyone else picking their jaw up off the floor? Ohio State fans were quietly holding out hope, but it sure looked like Alabama All-American safety Caleb Downs would follow his position coach and become a Georgia Bulldog after entering the transfer portal earlier in the week.

But Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff just pulled off one of the biggest coups imaginable and landed one of the best players in college football.

The Buckeyes might have missed out on Downs the first time around, but they didn’t miss on the second attempt and as you can imagine, social media exploded when the bombshell announcement dropped and we’re taking a look at some of the best.

Let’s go!

Ohio State lands All-American Alabama safety in transfer portal

This offseason has been something else for Ohio State. #GoBucks

The offseason has been fantastic for Ohio State football fans thus far and it just got even better as it was recently reported that former Alabama safety Caleb Downs is committing to Ohio State.

The news broke on Friday evening and was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Buckeye fans all across social media have already expressed their excitement with the announcement and rightfully so as Downs is a massive addition for the Buckeyes.

Downs was the top ranked player in transfer portal after recording 107 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defended, and a forced fumble last season which led to him being named an All-American by Pro Football Focus.

Getting on the field alone as a true freshman at Alabama is impressive in it’s own right but playing at the level that he did so early in his career is simply not something that you see very often.

The addition of Downs to a secondary that returns Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Sonny Styles, and Lathan Ransom from last year’s unit gives the Buckeyes an extremely talented defense headed into next season.

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LOOK: Social media reacts to Caleb Downs transferring to Ohio State

Alabama’s sensational young DB Caleb Downs is transferring to Ohio State. Fans are trolling Georgia and criticizing Ohio State’s head coach.

Caleb Downs was sensational in his first season of college football. The true freshman led the Crimson Tide in tackles and seemed poised to be a leader and all-time star in Tuscaloosa. However, he is now on his way to Ohio State, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The Buckeyes land Downs via the transfer portal, which opened up for the rising sophomore after Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired. His retirement is likely the reason why Downs wanted to leave Tuscaloosa in the first place.

Many believed that Downs would follow Travaris Robinson to Georgia. Robinson served as Alabama’s cornerback coach for the last two seasons. He recently accepted the job as the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator.

Fans were quick to take to social media and share their thoughts on what his transfer means for Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia.

Alabama safety Caleb Downs makes surprising commitment

Alabama Crimson Tide transfer safety Caleb Downs has decided between Georgia and Ohio State.

Alabama Crimson Tide safety Caleb Downs, who entered the NCAA transfer portal shortly after Nick Saban’s retirement, has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes over the Georgia Bulldogs. Downs, a true freshman, is ranked No. 1 among players in the transfer portal.

Ohio State has made a massive splash in the transfer portal this winter. The Buckeyes also added Mississippi star running back Quinshon Judkins via the portal.

Downs’ commitment to Ohio State is a big recruiting loss for Georgia. The Bulldogs were considered the favorites to land Downs according to most Georgia football insiders. However, Ohio State made a strong case, and  Downs is headed to the Buckeyes.

Georgia still returns star safety Malaki Starks for the 2024 college football season. The Dawgs have a strong safety group and are considered the way-too-early preseason No. 1.

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Downs is a former five-star recruit from Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia. Downs was a first-team All-SEC selection for his impressive 2023 season. Downs recorded 107 total tackles, three deflections and two interceptions as he helped Alabama win the SEC championship and make the College Football Playoff.

Georgia also brought in former Alabama cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson as the Dawgs’ new co-defensive coordinator.

Ohio State football schedules in-home visit with top transfer portal target

In case you missed it, OSU football paid a visit to a top transfer portal option. #GoBucks

After news broke last week of the retirement of Alabama’s legendary head coach Nick Saban it was anticipated that many of the Crimson Tide’s best players would become available.

That has come to fruition as Alabama has already seen multiple top contributors from last year’s team enter the transfer portal including true freshman safety Caleb Downs.

Downs’ play raised eyebrows of fans in Tuscaloosa and all across college football as he not only started on a Nick Saban coached defense as a true freshman but was one of the best safeties in college football last season.

After entering the transfer portal on Wednesday, it was reported that the Buckeyes were in the running alongside Georgia to land the star safety.

On Thursday, On3’s Sports report that Ohio State is making an in-home visit with the top transfer portal target further solidified the mutual interest between Downs and the Buckeyes.

Ohio State will have a tough job to beat out Georgia to land Downs as it is his home state and the Bulldogs have won two of the last three national championships.  However, if they can the Buckeyes would be adding one of college football’s best players to an already very talented defensive unit.

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Why Georgia makes sense as a destination for Alabama’s Caleb Downs

Here’s a breakdown of why Georgia is so enticing for Caleb Downs

Alabama star safety Caleb Downs has entered the transfer portal, and Georgia is considered the favorite to land the All-American safety, per multiple reports.

The situation began after Nick Saban’s retirement and subsequent decimation of the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff. The move also gave players a 30-day window to transfer. 2024 signees can also back out of their letters of intent if they have not started classes.

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer was named head coach on Friday with a monumental task ahead of him: Keep Alabama’s talented roster intact following the departure of one of the best college football coaches in history.

Kirby Smart immediately jumped at the opportunity to poach a premier coaching talent: defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, who is now Georgia’s co-defensive coordinator.

Below I breakdown why Downs would choose Georgia and the effect his addition would have on an already loaded defense:

Report: Ohio State battling Georgia for Alabama All-American in transfer portal

This would be another home run transfer for the Buckeyes. #GoBucks

It seems like the news about Alabama continues to rise, and like the others, Ohio State is looking to capitalize on Nick Saban’s retirement.

On Wednesday, safety [autotag]Caleb Downs[/autotag] entered the transfer portal, after a single season with the Crimson Tide where he looked dominant. The 6-foot, 203-pound defender had 107 total tackles, two interceptions and a forced and recovered fumble.

Those numbers were good enough to garner All-American status, and after the Buckeyes were a finalist during his recruitment, they are one of two schools that are fighting for him to suit up in new school colors.

247Sports Steve Wiltfong weighed in on Downs’ potential destinations (subscription required), which have two major players, Ohio State and Georgia.

Wiltfong exclaimed that “Ohio State checks the boxes for Downs,” but didn’t put the Buckeyes in the lead.

Unfortunately for the OSU, it looks like the Bulldogs are his current top choice, but that could change as the days go by. His addition would be another monster transfer win for Ohio State, so expect the Bucks to pull out all the stops to get Downs to commit.

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