Safety Caleb Downs was named the best defensive back in the country when he won the Thorpe Award on Friday, announced at the College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
Downs is in his second season with the Buckeyes and has been a big part of the No. 1 defense that OSU has boasted in both years. Last year, the Buckeyes gave up a nation-best 12.9 points per game, including the four-game College Football Playoff run. This year, the unit has improved so far by giving up 8.2 points per game.
Downs has been crucial to that success as the third-leading tackler on the team, tied with defensive end Caden Curry’s 60 stops. Downs has been very good in the open field, with 40 solo stops. He has also added five tackles for loss and one sack.
He has helped the Buckeyes remain first in the country in passing yards allowed, with just 129.1 per game.
The junior has also had two interceptions this season, broke up two passes and has hurried the quarterback once.
Downs is the third Buckeye to win the Thorpe Award in its history after being a finalist last year. He is the first since Malcolm Jenkins in 2008, and also joins Antoine Winfield, who won the award in 1998. Only Texas, LSU and Oklahoma have had three players win the Thorpe Award, which began being awarded in 1986.
In addition to winning the Thorpe Award, Downs has already been named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation. Last season, he was the Buckeyes only unanimous All-American.
Downs was also a finalist for the Bednarik Award, but was not named the winner.
