Ohio State's Caleb Downs reacts to transfer rumors
With the re-transfer of Kadyn Proctor back to Alabama, the rumor mill has been abuzz with speculation that Ohio State safety Caleb Downs may do the same.
Five-star safety Caleb Downs sent shockwaves through the college football transfer portal after announcing he would move on from Alabama to join Ohio State for the 2024 season, but already there is some speculation that he could reverse that decision before this fall's kickoff.
That talk started up recently when another five-star transfer, offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor, decided to return to Alabama after briefly switching to Iowa and re-joining the Crimson Tide, but Downs went on the record to put down any speculation that he would do the same.
"I'm here," Downs said of his commitment to the Buckeyes.
"At the end of the day, I didn't feel like I needed to say anything, because at the end of the day, I was still here at practice," he added. "I was still here with my teammates. I feel my actions speak for themselves. I don't need to say anything about that... But I'm here."
He expressed his love for Columbus, too, saying: "I love the city. I love High Street. I love being in the city, going to the restaurants. The food is great here. No complaints from me."
Downs immediately emerged as one of the most sought-after players in the 2024 transfer portal winter window, and his commitment to Ohio State propelled the team's defense into one of the nation's most promising, especially in addition to the veteran talent the unit returns this fall.
Downs was among other high-profile transfers the Buckeyes signed this offseason, including quarterbacks Will Howard and Julian Sayin, center Seth McLaughlin, and tailback Quinshon Judkins, who led the SEC in rushing at Ole Miss the last two seasons.
Downs supported Proctor's decision to transfer to Iowa, and then back to Alabama, saying that players should have the right to make moves that better their careers the way coaches do.
"I think, in life you have to make decisions based off of what you feel is best for yourself," he said. "And I support it. But at the end of the day, for college football athletes, I think that's the best thing, because coaches have the same right to do what they do."
He added: "A coach can come here for a month and leave, then he's just leaving a player high and dry. If they're gonna have the ability to do it, why wouldn't the players have some kind of say in their life?"
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