OSU's Caleb Downs Praised by NFL Scouts After Win vs. Texas, 'Special, Special Player'

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs drew high praise for his performance during the No. 3 Buckeyes' 14-7 victory over No. 1 Texas on Saturday.

"There's some Earl Thomas and Eric Berry to him," an NFL general manager told NFL insider Jordan Schultz. "Just a special, special player."

Downs was also described as "highly intelligent" with "flawless instincts" and "scary closing speed" by other general managers, per Schultz.

The 20-year-old finished with five tackles in the win, which included a fourth-down stop on Texas' final drive of the game.

Downs was all over the field during the contest, preventing the Longhorns' offense from amassing too many explosive plays.

Arch Manning threw for just 170 yards and averaged a mere 5.7 yards per attempt on Saturday after averaging 10.4 yards per attempt during the 2024 season.

Downs is looking to continue improving after earning unanimous All-American honors for his 2024 campaign, recording 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 appearances.

It's a promising sign for his NFL future that he's already being compared to Berry and Thomas, as both players combined to make 12 Pro Bowl appearances during their stellar careers.

Downs was also listed as the top player in the latest 2026 big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

While Ohio State's 2025 season is just beginning, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the safety playing on Sundays next year.