The Ohio State Buckeyes won the National Championship during the 2024 college football season. Despite all of the talent that left from that team, Ohio State returns wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs for the 2025 college football season.
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) celebrates after sacking Akron Zips quarterback Ben Finley (10) during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.
During the 2024 season, Downs was one of the best defensive backs in college football. Also, the winner of the Bednarik Award (best defensive player) was Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter. Downs is projected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Can the Buckeyes star safety be the defensive player in the country during the 2025 college football season?
CBS Sports Writer Predicts Ohio State Buckeyes Safety Caleb Downs To Win Bednarik Award Next Season
Will Backus of cbssports.com predicted some award winners for the upcoming 2025 college football season. The season doesn’t begin for another few months, but Backus is already predicting who will win the Bednarik Award next season in college football. He thinks that the Buckeyes star safety is going to win the award next college football season.
“If you haven’t noticed, there’s a glut of talent in Columbus. Downs doesn’t boast the counting stats one would expect from a player with so much hype — he finished the 2024 season with 48 tackles and two interceptions — but that’s because opposing offenses know not to test him. Given all that Ohio State has to replace defensively 2025, Downs should be more of a leader and focal point. That also means he’ll put up some big numbers while running all over the field for the Buckeyes. “
Downs is 6’0″ and weighs 205 lbs. During the 2024 college football season with Ohio State, he recorded 81 tackles, 0.5 sacks, two interceptions, and six pass deflections. Downs will have a chance to show to NFL scouts early and often in college football games next season that he is one of the best defensive players in the country.
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