Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is a supremely talented athlete and everyone in Columbus knows it. Now it appears that the Buckeyes are going to try and make good use of that athleticism on both sides of the ball.
Speaking to the media this week, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said that Downs has been making his presence felt in the running back meetings, with the intentions of using him at the position in the event his services are needed.
“Day said safety Caleb Downs has been in some of the running back meetings in case he is needed at the position down the line,” Buckeyes insider Patrick Murphy wrote on X.
Downs was recruited as one of the nation’s top safeties back in 2023, but also played running back very effectively back at Mill Creek High School. As a senior he had a whopping 20 touchdowns on just 57 carries and his father played running back in the NFL.
But fans don’t seem all that impressed by the idea of Downs playing a running back. Many have pointed out that he’s too useful as a safety to risk fatigue or injury playing on offense too.
It seems unlikely that Downs will play in the backfield next season. But you never know what can happen in a pinch.
Will Caleb Downs play on offense at all next season?