COLUMBUS — There were two plays early in Ohio State camp that were quintessential Caleb Downs. The first came during a 7-on-7 period in the second practice. Downs jumped a route in the flat, nearly intercepting a pass because he knew what concept was coming. The next day, he almost won a race to the catch point on a tight end screen before the tight end did, because Downs has a sixth sense about these things. He combined with linebacker Sonny Styles for a tackle for loss on the play.
Former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles leaned into Downs’ instincts in the second half of the 2024 season, and especially during the Buckeyes’ postseason run, by making sure the do-everything safety was more often in a position to impact plays.
Downs was lined up in the slot on those two plays from camp highlighted above. It wasn’t a revelation, something new cooked up by current defensive coordinator Matt Patrica. It was a continuation. When Knowles started moving Downs around more last season (in addition to some other tweaks), Ohio State’s defense went from very good to nuclear levels of dominance.