"When I watch Caleb Downs, I'm not trying to project traits or guess at upside. I am evaluating what's already there, and what is there looks like an NFL safety who just happens to still be playing college football. Downs isn't flashy for the sake of it. I see efficiency, decisiveness, and a player who is always around the football. That is the kinda guy who lasts in the NFL, and players who defensive coordinators trust."
"This is where I see Downs separating himself from the pack. He sees plays develop quickly and reacts without hesitation. A quarterback's eyes, route combinations, the run flow, he processes all of it fast. You don't see panic or late reactions on tape. When the ball is thrown, he's already breaking. This is the type of anticipation everyone loves to see and is hard to teach, and it's also the reason safeties like this translate well to the NFL."
"The part of Caleb Downs game I think I enjoy watching the most is his versatility. If you watched Ohio State last season you would see him line up: Deep as a post safety In two-high looks In the box Over the slot As a robber or blitzer Most importantly, I didn't see his speed and decisiveness change much at all based on alignment. Some players look comfortable in one role and survive others, but Downs looks comfortable everywhere."
Caleb Downs measures about 6'0", 205 lbs and carries a top-15 draft range. He began at Alabama and transferred to Ohio State, where he became the centerpiece of the defense, handling communication, checking coverage, and consistently positioning himself near the football. Downs shows exceptional processing and instincts, recognizing quarterback eyes, route combinations, and run flow quickly and reacting without hesitation so he is already breaking when the ball is thrown. Versatility appears across alignments — deep post safety, two-high, in the box, over the slot, and as a robber or blitzer — with speed and decisiveness consistent regardless of role.
Read at Inside The Star
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