The Ohio State Buckeyes have several generational players to replace ahead of the 2026 season. All of them will be difficult to replace from a strategic standpoint. Tangible on-field production in Scarlet and Gray that matches OSU's elite standard is a rare commodity.
Replacing Caleb Downs will be nearly impossible. While a great player like Carnell Tate will be able to be replaced by a generational freshman recruit like Chris Henry Jr. (since even that is not a guarantee, considering how seamlessly Tate and Jeremiah Smith's games intertwined), a generational performer like Caleb Downs can't be replaced by one player.
"Their dynamic—and the way both Smith and Tate played completely unselfish football—played a major role in the Buckeyes’ offensive success, especially on weeks when the run game struggled and the wide receivers had to do the heavy lifting," Land-Grant Holy Land's Jami Jurich wrote. "Chris Henry Jr. seems like the most likely replacement for Tate, and we saw him shine in the Spring Game, but assuming he gets the job, can he and Smith replicate the magic of Smith and Tate?
"On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes are pretty well-equipped at linebacker (especially with the new addition of Christian Alliegro via the portal), but safety Caleb Downs is so difficult to replace that they’re turning to three different players to do so. Read that again: Caleb Downs was singlehandedly accomplishing something the coaches are turning to three players collectively for in the future."
Downs was a freak who would blitz past opponents' interior offensive lines, perform spy duties, defend slots in man-coverage, and even act as a fourth linebacker on the outside at times. He did everything. And he did it convincingly enough to be the eighth-highest drafted safety in NFL draft history. Downs was selected No. 11 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in April. Safeties don't get taken that high unless they are special.
Downs is special enough to keep the Buckeyes' coaching staff up at night trying to figure out how to replace him.
Who is replacing Caleb Downs at safety?
The three-man committee that will be replacing Downs will consist of junior safety Jaylen McClain, Florida State Seminoles transfer Earl Little Jr., and Duke Blue Devils transfer Terry Moore. Each will have a portion of the responsibilities Downs is leaving behind.
McClain will be the center fielder who calls out defensive shifts to opposing offensive audibles. Little will be a functional nickel. Moore could find himself in the box defending against the run or blitzing through the A gap like Downs once did. Of course, all of them will be used in more roles than just that, especially McClain. But that's the working idea to replicate what Downs brought to Columbus over the past two years.
Three highly regarded players. One man's responsibilities for a multiple-season span. It cannot be overstated how tough it'll be on Matt Patricia, Matt Guerrieri, and Co. to oversee a defense as dominant without Downs. That's why they get paid the big bucks, though.
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