Caleb Downs To Take Snaps At Running Back In 2024?

Caleb Downs To Take Snaps At Running Back In 2024?

Caleb Downs has only played one full season in College Football, but it is abundantly clear he is among the best safeties in the country. Last season during his true freshman season at Alabama, Downs totaled 107 total tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Absurd numbers for any player, let alone someone in their first season.

In January, Caleb Downs announced his transfer to Ohio State. This decision came on the heels of Nick Saban retiring. Ryan Day had landed a former five-star player and one of the highest-ranked recruits in the country, so naturally, you want to see him on the field as much as possible. Well, apparently they might be taking the Travis Hunter route and having Downs play on both sides of the ball.

According to Lettermen Row via On3.com, Day has had talks of having Downs be in the running backs room during meetings, as a way to build depth at the position. In theory, this could be a good idea. Downs is a plus athlete who seems to have good vision as your roaming Center Fielder in the secondary with solid hands. There’s only one slight problem.

Ohio State has two of the best running backs in the country in TreVeyon Henderson and incoming transfer Quinshon Judkins. Even if Downs spent all off-season working on RB drills, he’s maybe fourth on the depth chart, so he isn’t even going to see the field this season at the position. So why run the risk of injury by having him on the field 24/7?

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Caleb Downs is one of the best Safeties in the country, no ifs and’s or buts about it. He is going to be an immediate bolster to the Ohio State secondary. I think the decision to potentially trot him out at Running Back would be a massive mistake. Downs is already a special player, there’s no need to muddy his waters by having him learn another position. Let him excel in the secondary.

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