15-07-2025
PFF explains why Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is best defender in college football
To win trophies and have confetti rain down, you have to have the players to do it. And while the Buckeyes lost a whopping 14 players to the 2025 NFL draft, there's still plenty of talent left to wear the venerable Scarlet and Gray. In fact, most believe the Buckeyes have the two best players in college football with Jeremiah Smith on offense and Caleb Downs on defense.
Pro Football Focus is a believer, too, because it ranked Smith and Downs as the two best players in its '2025 PFF College 50.' It's one thing to just say that, it's another to explain it to the masses and PFF did just that recently for both players. We've already heard why Smith is the best overall player, so what about Downs?
"At No. 2, is Caleb Downs, a safety from Ohio State -- the best defensive player in college football," PFF said. "Over those last two years, he's the most valuable safety in college football according to our wins above average metric. (Has a) 91.7 PFF grade -- second among all safeties over the last two years -- 91.2 coverage grade, third among all safeties over the last two years. Can thrive in the free safety slot, corner, or in the box."
You'll get no argument from us. Downs was so important to the defense last year that they moved him down in the box almost like a linebacker and just let him roam the field to make plays. He was a Freshman All-American at Alabama and continued to perform at Ohio State, being named a unanimous All-American.
His upcoming junior year should be even more special.
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