Former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 11 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Downs was the fourth Buckeye selected in the draft after Carnell Tate was picked fourth overall by the Tennessee Titans, Arvell Reese was drafted fifth by the New York Giants and Sonny Styles was picked eighth by the Washington Commanders.
A product of Mill Creek in Hoschton, Ga., Downs committed to Alabama as the No. 6 overall player and the top-ranked safety in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.
In just one season in Tuscaloosa, Downs turned in a stellar freshman campaign, leading the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles, along with three pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble. His 2023 performance earned him the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award, SEC Freshman of the Year honors, and second-team All-America recognition from both the AP and The Sporting News.
After just one season, he left Alabama as the top player in the 2024 transfer portal, joining Ohio State where he spent the last two seasons. In the 2024 season Downs helped lead Ohio State to the first 12-team College Football Playoff championship, while racking up 81 tackles, breaking up six passes, and forcing two interceptions. Downs also returned a punt for a 79-yard touchdown against Indiana on Nov. 23, 2024, Ohio State’s first punt-return score in 10 years. He earned the first of two unanimous All-America honors in 2024.
In 2025, Downs was just as productive, totaling 68 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one sack, while helping lead the Buckeyes to the No. 1 overall scoring and total defense nationally. His efforts earned him his second unanimous All-America nomination, as well as the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Downs will begin the next chapter of his football career in the NFL, as he joins the Cowboys, led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, whose defense features Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker at safety. Dallas finished with a 7-9-1 record in 2025, second in the NFC East.
