The Buckeyes’ All-American safety was as surprised as anyone else when legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban announced his retirement last January. Downs, coming off an outstanding true freshman season with the Crimson Tide, was suddenly faced with a critical decision concerning his future: whether to stay in Tuscaloosa or transfer elsewhere.
“That was a huge shock to me,” Caleb Downs added. “I didn’t expect it, and even when he said it, I was thinking, did this really just happen? That was one of the main reasons I went to Alabama. And that was a very terrible period for me.
After taking some time to comprehend the news that echoed throughout college football, Downs decided to enter the transfer portal, but he did not rush the decision. He waited about a week before officially entering.
“I didn’t know right away that I was going to hit the portal,” Downs said Saturday, prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Atlanta. “I tried to give everyone the opportunity to stay.
I stayed for an extra six or five days to get to know the new coaching staff, see who they were going to employ, and see if I could stay, because I didn’t want to leave at the moment and wanted to stick to my decision to stay in high school. And it did not turn out that way.
Downs transferred to Ohio State, picking the Buckeyes over Georgia, both of which were among his top high school alternatives. That choice has paid off, with Downs playing a key part in Ohio State’s national championship game against Notre Dame on Monday.
The unanimous All-American safety produced an outstanding play late in a crucial goal-line stand against Texas in the Cotton Bowl semifinals, propelling Ohio State to this point.
Last year, Downs was recognized as the top transfer portal prospect in the cycle. However, the decision to move abroad was not without emotional turmoil.
“That was probably one of the most difficult pieces in my life, just try to make that decision and dealing with the fact that I had to leave [Alabama] and the fact that the high school decision I made I wasn’t going to be able to stick to,” Downs recalls.
“And Georgia was a really huge school for me because I grew up here and was so familiar with the coaching staff, and coach Kirby (Smart), (Will) Muschamp, and [Travarius Robinson] all went there. So it was a great opportunity to go there.”
Ironically, Saban’s new role as an analyst on ESPN’s “College GameDay” set will include coverage of the national championship game.
“I know that that’s been a change for him and will continue to be a change for him,” Downs told me. “But I can tell that he’s really enjoyed it, and every time I’ve talked to him about it, he’s like I’m having so much fun doing it right now, so it’s a good feeling.”
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