SecurityAfter an outstanding freshman season at Alabama, Caleb Downs, the No. 8 player in the Class of 2023 and No. 1 player in the transfer portal, has made the decision to transfer to Ohio State, his father, Gary Downs, told 247Sports. Following the hiring of former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer by the Crimson Tide to succeed Nick Saban, who announced his retirement last week, Caleb Downs made his way onto the transfer site.

Given that Downs is a Peach State native, it was thought that Georgia would have the best chance of landing him. However, the SEC Freshman of the Year chose to sign with the Buckeyes, who have been adding coaches and players to their squad this offseason. As a crucial component of Alabama’s turnaround and eventual journey to the College Football Playoff, Downs had an outstanding rookie campaign.

Downs’ father told 247Sports, “Obviously we’re not starting from square one of recruiting,” as soon as Downs logged on. “We already know a great deal of these coaches. We have visited many locations. He is searching for products that fit specific criteria.”

Despite the gateway having closed for the winter, Alabama players had 30 days to become eligible after Saban announced his departure. Several talented Tide players have made the decision to move up instead of continuing to play for DeBoer.

A five-star prospect according to 247Sports, Downs made his Alabama debut in the season’s first game and lived up to the excitement he created as a high school prospect. With 107 tackles and two interceptions at the end of the season, he was named to the All-SEC second team, SEC All-Freshman, and CBS Sports Freshman of the Year.

Downs was the first Alabama freshman in program history to lead the team in tackles, and his coverage grade of 88.9 from Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best among all SEC safeties. On November 18, Downs demonstrated his potential as a punt returner by scoring an 85-yard return touchdown against Chattanooga.

Recruiting win for Ohio State

Georgia was considered the front-runner to land the top overall transfer available, and with good cause, even after Downs stepped foot on the transfer portal earlier this week. The Buckeyes pulled off the upset in recruiting even though former Alabama cornerback coach Travaris Robinson recently accepted a position with the Bulldogs as their co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Downs attended Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia, which is located less than an hour’s drive from the Georgia campus in Athens, which is another factor contributing to Georgia’s perception as the favorite. After high school, he contemplated Ohio State and the Bulldogs, but in the end, he decided to enroll at Alabama. As Ohio State’s fifth transfer of this cycle, Downs joins Alabama offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin, Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek, and Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins.

Ohio State’s defense just got stronger

Downs was among the top players in the nation at his position as a true freshman. He was named to the All-American second team. Now, with several important players back for another season, Downs will lead an Ohio State secondary.

The defensive lineman Tyreik Williams, Jack Sawyer, and J.T. Tuimoloau decided to run it back on defense. One of the only gaps on the Ohio State roster was the secondary, but now that the best returning player at the position is back, the spot is arguably filled. Conversely, Day recently appointed Bill O’Brien, a former Alabama offensive coordinator, to the same role at Ohio State.Day will hand over play-calling responsibilities to O’Brien, which represents a change in program philosophy as the Buckeyes attempt to reclaim the top spot in the Big Ten in 2024.

Impact on Alabama

After Saban’s retirement, Downs is not the only well-known player from Alabama’s secondary to depart. The departure of Trey Amos (Ole Miss) and Antonio Kite (Auburn) for SEC opponents, along with the transfer of former five-star cornerback Dezz Ricks to Texas A&M, has left Alabama’s 2024 secondary in disarray while DeBoer organizes his first-year staff.

DeBoer brought in South Alabama coach Kane Wommack to serve as Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator following their 2019 collaboration at Indiana. In his three seasons with the Jaguars, Wommack recorded a record of 22-16, and he just guided the team to its first-ever back-to-back bowl game.In addition to working with the secondary, Buffalo coach Maurice Linguist was appointed as the other co-defensive coordinator.

On the defensive end of the ball, the pair provides a few relatively eye-catching names to the offensive-minded DeBoer. But Wommack hasn’t worked in the SEC since he was a graduate assistant at Ole Miss in 2013, and Linguist last held a position in the conference in 2019 as Texas A&M’s cornerbacks coach. Consequently, it is unlikely that either of them had any previous connections to current Crimson Tide players through high school recruitment.