Caleb Downs enters NCAA Transfer Portal as new No. 1 in On3 Transfer Portal Rankings

There’s a new No. 1 overall prospect in the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings, following a monster addition on Wednesday. Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs has entered the portal and is now the biggest name in the portal.

On3 tabs Downs as the No. 1 overall player currently available. He takes the top spot from Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad.

Downs emerged on the scene with a monster freshman season at Alabama.

He quickly became a team leader in many regards, and he led the team in tackling during the 2023 season. That made him the first freshman in Alabama history dating back to at least 1970 to accomplish that feat.

Downs finished the year with 107 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and five passes defended.

He was voted to the first-team All-SEC squad following the season.

Needless to say, Downs will garner plenty of interest in the NCAA transfer portal after deciding to make a change.

Prior to enrolling at Alabama, Caleb Downs was a five-star prospect and the No. 5 overall recruit in the 2023 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Downs also checked in as the No. 1 safety in the class and the No. 1 overall player from the state of Georgia, hailing from Hoschton (GA) Mill Creek.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

Alabama in the transfer portal

As of now, Alabama has seen 24 players transfer out of the program, with three players transferring into it. Downs is the highest-rated former recruit to transfer out of Alabama this cycle. Along with Downs, eight defensive backs have made the decision to leave Alabama.

Most of the transfers out of the Alabama program have come following the surprising retirement of former head coach Nick Saban. Once Saban announced his retirement, a new 30-day window for Crimson Tide players to transfer opened up.