Nick Saban coached plenty of great players in his legendary career. So when the coach praises one of his former players, it means something.
On Saturday’s College GameDay, Saban took time to shoutout Ohio State star defender Caleb Downs. Saban coached Downs in 2023 at Alabama, but Downs transferred to the Buckeyes this offseason. Clearly, Downs made a big impression on the coach during their season together.
“This guy is one of the most complete people I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach. He’s a great person. He’s a great student. He’s a phenomenal football player,” Saban said. “Great competitive — his competitive IQ, how he responds on the field and reacts instinctively, It’s in the top tier of all players of all time.”
That’s high praise for Downs considering the number of great players Saban has coached over the years. At Alabama, Downs racked up 107 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions.
For the Buckeyes, Downs has continued to impress. The defensive back has 45 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and 0.5 sacks. The star defender has helped the Buckeyes have the No. 6 pass defense in the country as the unit is allowing just 159.6 yards per game.
Downs will need to come up big for the Buckeyes in Week 13 as they prepare for a top-5 matchup with Indiana. A win against the Hoosiers ensures the Buckeyes stay alive in the B1G Championship Game race.
Nick Saban with some incredible praise for Caleb Downs (via @CollegeGameDay):
“This guy is one of the most complete people I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach. He’s a great person. He’s a great student. He’s a phenomenal football player,” Saban said. “Great competitive — his…
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) November 23, 2024
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
