The Ohio State football team is poised to make a big run in the 2024-25 season. The Buckeyes received a huge boost in January when they signed former Alabama football defensive back Caleb Downs through the transfer portal. However, while the club was in summer training, head coach Ryan Day revealed some intriguing intentions for Downs.
According to Chase Brown, Day stated that Downs spent some time in running back meetings this summer and that the team has discussed him playing snaps at both running back and safety. It’ll be intriguing to watch how Downs fares in the backfield. Nonetheless, he would be competing against some elite colleagues.
TreVeyon Henderson, a star running back, is returning to the Buckeyes after a strong three-year run. He finished the season with 926 running yards and 11 touchdowns. Henderson leads Ohio State’s powerful rushing lineup. Given Urban Meyer’s perspective on the roster, social media users were dissatisfied with the team’s plans to include Downs.
“As of now, this is one of the most talented rosters in the last decade – maybe ever,” Meyer told On3. “You look at the quality of athlete at every position, I have never seen anything like it.”
If the Ohio State football team is so good, why does Caleb Downs have to play both safety and running back? Surely, Ryan Day and his coaching staff see something in Downs that justifies the experiment.
Regardless of what happens, Downs intends to be a great secondary contributor.
Ohio State football looks to take a jump in 2024-25.
Caleb Downs will be an important member of Ohio State’s defence in the 2024-25 season. Downs finished his college football debut season at Alabama with 70 tackles, two interceptions, three passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. As a result, the former five-star prospect received SEC Freshman of the Year and First-Team All-SEC recognition.
Downs opted to depart Alabama’s highly regarded football team when former head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement. Saban complimented Downs’ character early in the 2023-24 season.
“I think what impresses me most about Caleb Downs is his maturity,” Saban remarked in October. “He’s an extremely instinctive football player. He is one of the top players in the country at his position, and he does not take it for granted. “He is very coachable.”
Perhaps Downs’ maturity and coachability are the reasons Ryan Day and the Buckeyes are willing to try with him at running back. In either case, Ohio State appears to have a strong two-way attack, which should lend validity to Urban Meyer’s “talent” remark.
Ohio State ended the 2023-24 season with an 11–2 record. They came close to making the College Football Playoff, but a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten championship game dashed their aspirations. The Buckeyes defeated 14-3 against the Missouri Tigers in the Cotton Bowl. Ohio State will approach the 2024-25 season determined to remain at the top of the Big Ten and qualify for the College Football Playoff. However, this will not be easy.
To attain their ambitions, the Buckeyes must first face the reigning champion Michigan Wolverines. Ohio State will give it their best as they strive for a better performance in the fall.
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