Joel Klatt defends Caleb Downs as the second-best player in college football

Ohio State went No. 1 and No. 2, with one on each side of the football, in the Top-10 players in 2025 for Joel Klatt at FOX Sports. In second overall was the defensive player with it being S Caleb Downs for the Buckeyes.

Klatt released that ranking of his top players in college football for this season during his show on Monday, including WR Jeremiah Smith at No. 1 and then Downs at No. 2. That’s with how impactful Downs has been in more ways than one on defense and on special teams at two programs, specifically last season in Columbus.

“Downs is unbelievable. Talk to anybody who watches this sport for any extended period of time and you’ll hear them about Caleb Downs,” said Klatt. “Just his overall instincts, his ability to tackle in space, what he can do from an athletic perspective. Even in the return game? Again, get to YouTube. You’re watching highlights right now. This is a punt return against Indiana. He takes it back to the house, changed that game in the first half.”

Downs transferred in from Alabama after a true freshman season where he led the Tide’s defense by putting up 107 tackles along with four deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble plus a recovery while also returning four punts on special teams, one for a score, for 87 yards. Then, as a big part of a top-rated Buckeyes’ defense that would help them to win the national title, Downs, a Unanimous Consensus All-American at safety, had 82 tackles, six deflections, and two interceptions on defense while also returning six punts on special teams, again one for a score, for 98 yards.

Versatility is the key aspect with Downs. He has been productive in several spots in two phases of the game, namely on defense with Klatt seeing him as the main factor in what Ohio State did defensively a season ago.

“Downs is so good that Ohio State basically changed the defense about mid-year in order to focus on getting him in a position to impact more plays than he otherwise would have,” said Klatt. “At safety, you can get stuck like in a half or in a deep third and you can’t really impact the play if you’re playing some of those positions, although those structures are solid in football. So, they changed the structure.”

“They have three safeties, or did last year, and they put him in more of a position in the middle of the field to be involved not only in the run fit but also in the pass defense and, because of that, he became more impactful and they got better as a defense. The pass rush got better up front because they were better in coverage. Why? Because Downs was more involved in the middle of the field, impacting more plays than he otherwise would have,” Klatt continued. “When Jim Knowles started moving him closer, that’s when I thought their defense got a lot better.”

Klatt also had a lot of respect for who Downs is off of the field. He recalled several conversations he had with the person that impressed him just as much as the player did.

“He is one of my favorite guys to talk to in the lunch room, even though we’re always bothering him as he’s trying to eat,” said Klatt. “Great head on his shoulders. Smart young man, very smart young man. His instincts are born from thoughtful preparation, and most great players are like that and he’s a great player.”

Downs has been as good as any defensive player in the country as an underclassman for two brand programs in the sport. Klatt now has him listed as the best one in the game for this fall going into his junior year where he might be the most important player back this season for the Buckeyes.