The Ohio State football team has the best defense in college football. That has been true all season long, and it continues to look like the most dominant unit in the country. Heading into the season, the Buckeyes had he best defensive layer in the country in Caleb Downs.
Downs showed in the College Football Playoff a season ago that he is a dominant player who will likely be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His talent is off the charts, and he showed that by helping in the run game and defending in the pass game.
Now that the regular season is finished, Downs is up for several awards. One of the awards he is up for is the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the best defensive back in the country. Winning that award was the last thing Downs needed to do with his career with the Buckeyes, and he has done that.
Ohio State football player Caleb Downs wins Jim Thorpe Award
Downs deserved this award. He is the best player on Ohio State's defense, and Matt Patricia has done a good job of moving him around the field. He can be used in almost any situation, and that's why the Ohio State Buckeyes have a great chance to win another national championship.
The Buckeyes will deploy Downs in a more aggressive fashion in the CFP. They will either face Miami or Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, so they need a player like Downs who can be aggressive. He is a demon who can do almost anything on the defensive side of the ball.
Downs will be the best defensive player that takes the field in any game he plays during this CFP run. He's hoping to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes with another national title before having a long career in the NFL.