breaking Former All-American wide receiver Caleb Downs chooses Ohio State over Alabama following Nick Saban’s resignation.

Security Caleb Downs, who had an outstanding freshman season at Alabama and is ranked No. 8 in the Class of 2023 and No. 1 in the transfer portal, has made the decision to transfer to Ohio State, according to his father Gary Downs, who spoke with Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. Following former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban’s announcement of his retirement last week, Caleb Downs made his way onto the transfer site

Given that Downs is a Peach State native, it was assumed that Georgia would be the frontrunner to sign him. Nevertheless, the SEC Freshman of the Year chose to sign with the Buckeyes, who have been adding coaches and players to their squad this offseason. As a crucial component of Alabama’s turnaround and eventual journey to the College Football Playoff, Downs had an outstanding freshman season.

 

As soon as Downs logged onto the portal, his father told 247Sports, “Obviously we’re not starting from square one of recruiting.” “We already know a great deal of these coaches. We have visited many locations. He is searching for products that fit specific criteria.”

Despite the gateway having closed for the winter, Alabama players had 30 days to become eligible after Saban announced his departure. Many of the best Alabama players have made the decision to relocate rather than continue playing for the new coach, Kalen DeBoer.

A five-star prospect according to 247Sports, Downs made his Alabama debut in the season’s first game and lived up to the excitement he created as a high school prospect. With 107 tackles and two interceptions at the end of the season, he was named to the All-SEC second team, SEC All-Freshman, and CBS Sports Freshman of the Year.

Downs was the first Alabama freshman in program history to lead the team in tackles, and his coverage grade of 88.9 from Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best among all SEC safeties. On November 18, Downs demonstrated his potential as a punter returner by scoring an 85-yard return touchdown against Chattanooga.

Impact on Alabama Downs is not the only well-known player from Alabama’s secondary to have departed as a result of head coach Nick Saban’s retirement. Alabama’s 2024 secondary is in turmoil as DeBoer organizes his first-year staff. Former five-star cornerback Dezz Ricks transferred to Texas A&M, and CBs Trey Amos (Ole Miss) and Antonio Kite (Auburn) also left for rival SEC progra

 

DeBoer brought in South Alabama coach Kane Wommack, who previously worked with him at Indiana, to serve as Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator. In just his third season with the Jaguars, Wommack recorded a 22-16 record and, for the first time in school history, guided the team to consecutive bowl games. In addition to working with the secondary, Buffalo coach Maurice Linguist was appointed as the other co-defensive coordinator.

On the defensive end of the ball, the pair provides a few relatively eye-catching names to the offensive-minded DeBoer. But Wommack hasn’t worked in the SEC since his graduate assistant position at Ole Miss in 2013, and Linguist last held a position in the conference in 2019 as Texas A&M’s cornerbacks coach. Consequently, it is unlikely that either of them had any prior connections to the current Crimson Tide players through the high school recruiting process.