Ohio State Safety Caleb Downs Wins Lott IMPACT Trophy

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was awarded the Lott IMPACT Trophy on Sunday, which honors the top defensive player in college football based on on-field performance, academic achievement, community involvement, leadership and character.

Downs has been dominant on the field for Ohio State this season, racking up 60 total tackles (40 solo), five tackles for loss, two interceptions, two defended passes and a sack. His efforts earned him Big Ten’s Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year honors and the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award for the second season in a row. 

Downs is one of Ohio State’s four captains and was also named an OSU Scholar-Athlete in 2025. Off the field Downs partners with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, working with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank to help the charge against food insecurity in central and eastern Ohio. Downs also started a partnership with his brother, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, called the Trust Downs Foundation which works to fight homelessness in Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Columbus. 

The then-sophomore safety was a finalist for the award in 2024, though the honors ultimately went to Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado. 

This season, Downs earned the honor over Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen, Miami (Fla.) defensive end Rueben Bain and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. 

Downs joins former Ohio State linebacker and current linebackers coach James LaurInaitis (2008) as the only Buckeyes to win the award. 

Downs is also a finalist for three awards that are yet to be announced — the Thorpe Award, The Bronko Nagurski Trophy and The Chuck Bednarik Award.