Caleb Downs Leads Alabama's Players of the Week Honors

Freshman safety scored the Crimson Tide's first touchdown on punt return of the season during 66-10 victory against Chattanooga.
Caleb Downs Leads Alabama's Players of the Week Honors
Caleb Downs Leads Alabama's Players of the Week Honors /
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Freshman Caleb Downs was named a player of the week in two spots by Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff Monday following the 66-10 win against Chattanooga at Bryant-Denny Stadium. 

On defense, the safety accounted for seven total tackles and one pass breakup against the Mocs, as the Crimson Tide limited them to 233 total yards, including 107 passing.

As a punt returner he fielded two kicks, including an 85-yard touchdown. It was Alabama's e first punt return for a score this season. 

Also honored were Malik Benson and Robbie Ouzts on offense; Jihaad Campbell, Trezmen Marshall and Dallas Turner on defense; and Will Reichard on special teams.

Malik Benson

  • Caught all three of his targets for 23 yards and a touchdown
  • Converted one first down to go along with his scoring play from 20 yards out

Robbie Ouzts

  • Got the starting nod against the Mocs, recording one catch for a seven-yard touchdown
  • Also returned one kickoff for a gain of 11 yards on special teams

Jihaad Campbell

  • Led the Tide defense with 10 total tackles, six of which were solo stops
  • Added one pass breakup and was credited with a quarterback hurry by the UA coaching staff

Trezmen Marshall

  • Made an impact from his middle linebacker post on Senior Day
  • Contributed six total tackles, four of which were solo stops

Dallas Turner

  • Provided consistent pressure off the edge in the Tide’s final home matchup of 2023
  • Totaled three tackles and a quarterback hurry

Will Reichard

  • Scored 12 points against the Mocs, connecting on all nine PATs and making a 50-yard field goal
  • The 50-yarder was the eighth of his career, making him the Crimson Tide’s record holder for career 50-plus yard field goals
  • Added seven kickoffs for 439 yards with four touchbacks

SEC Players of the Week 

Co-Offensive: Jayden Daniels, LSU, and Brady Cook, Missouri
Co-Defensive: Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State, and Alfahiym Walcott, Arkansas
Special teams: Harrison Mevis, Missouri
Offensive lineman: Xavier Delgado, Missouri
Defensive lineman: Jordan Strachan, South Carolina
Freshman: Kyle Ferrie, Mississippi State, and Isaiah Augustave, Arkansas

The Extra Point: Caleb Downs' 85-yard Touchdown Provides Much Needed Spark


Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.