'I'm Here'! Ohio State Buckeyes Caleb Downs Shoots Down Transfer Rumors

Caleb Downs has no plans on leaving Ohio State - and never did.

Mar 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) stretches during the / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

New Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs landed in Columbus from the NCAA Transfer Portal this past offseason, in what was one of - if not the biggest moves in the modern era of college football.

However, despite being enrolled and participating in spring football camp, there have been various unfounded rumors suggesting that Downs was considering a return to Alabama.

Those rumors emerged in large part due to his former tammate Kadyn Proctor, who transferred to Iowa earlier this offseason, before reversing course and returning to Alabama.

However, according to Downs himself, he never had any thoughts of returning to Tuscaloosa and is staying right where he is in Columbus.

Mar 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) stretches during the / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

“I didn’t feel like I needed to say anything, because, at the end of the day, I’m still here at practice. I’m still here with my teammates. I feel my actions speak for themselves... I’m here.”

In a way, ine could see the appeal of returning back to Alabama. The SEC seems to be wide open, and the Crimson Tide are a perennial national title contender.

That said, the Buckeyes are in that very same position in the Big Ten, and are quite frankly more prepared to challenge for a national title than the tide are in the SEC.

And Downs knows all of that to be true.

“It feels like this is the place to be," Downs said. "I'm glad to be here. My family’s been up here. I’m feeling good.”

Now, instead of focusing on his past, Downs is looking toward the future.

A future that started with spring football camp, and continues through building relationships with his new teammates - something that is very important to him personally.

“It’s always new just to be around different people, people that you haven’t spent time with," Downs said. Building relationships is a big thing for me, so just trying to grow my relationships with my teammates and trying to learn more about each of them.”

Buckeyes fans will get their first real glimpse of Downs during Ohio State's spring football game on April 13.