Caleb Downs gives his thoughts on the Ohio State defense potential in 2025

USA Today

11-07-2025

Ohio State has the No. 1 defense by a lot of metrics last college football season despite a grueling schedule against several top ten teams. It helped to have a veteran group with plenty of skill, many of which went off to play football on Sundays with 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL draft.
One might not be surprised, then, to see a bit of a drop off on that side of the ball this fall, right? After all, replacing that many starters in key positions has to take a toll on how disruptive and productive the defense can be during a season in which the schedule will not be kind.
But wait. According to superstar safety Caleb Downs, he believes the defense can still play at a high level in 2025. In fact, he thinks the talent is there to not see much of a regression, at least according to an article from Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.
'I think we have the chance to be just as good as we were last year, just based off the talent that we have,' Downs said. 'We're still Ohio State. We still have a lot of talent.'
The Buckeyes lose eight starters in total, but OSU rotated plenty of players in last season, so it's not like those that are ready to step in and take over are as green as it might seem like. The All-American safety thinks the talent ready to plug and play can get it done.
'Those guys have been here and waited their turn,' Downs said. 'Just to see them step into new roles, it's going to be great to watch.
For that to happen, we have to remember that it's a team effort, and that includes new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's ability to install whatever system he's going to run, and get the unit to play together and with purpose. Downs is a big fan in that regard, too.
'Great teacher, great educator of the game,' Downs said of Patricia. 'I've learned a lot from him in his short time here. He's taught me a lot of football, so I'm excited for how we're going to play on the field.'
Well then, there you have it. Optimism usually runs high before the season starts, but if we're going to believe anyone, why not believe a guy who has seen some top-end skill at both Alabama and Ohio State, and who is one of the best defenders in the country?
Preseason camp will start at the end of the month, and all of those new players ready to be the next man up will try to put the finishing touches on turning the page from the Jim Knowles era to Patricia and show everyone that things will just keep humming along in Columbus.
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