Ryan Day looks back on Caleb Downs recruitment after Nick Saban retirement

Ryan Day knew Caleb Downs had everything it took to become a special player at the collegiate level, and when the stars aligned and the defensive back took his talents to Columbus, the Ohio State leader was vindicated.

The defensive back spent his freshman season in Tuscaloosa with Nick Saban at Alabama, but the Buckeyes came close to winning the recruiting battle for his services. When Saban retired at the end of the 2023 campaign, Downs entered the transfer portal, and that’s when Day decided the timing was right to finally bring him to the Buckeyes.

All Downs has done with Ohio State is become the leader of the Buckeyes’ defensive unit, accumulating 76 total tackles, six PBUs, two interceptions and a sack. Ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Notre Dame, Day spoke glowingly of Downs, harkening back to his recruitment, as well.

“Caleb is mature beyond his years. He’s a tremendous player. But he brings a work ethic that’s tremendous,” Day said, regarding the star defensive back via his pregame media session. “He and Lathan Ransom both. And the way that they bring energy to practice every day, and they let their play do the talking for them. But they’re great leaders.

“During the recruiting process, I went all the way down to the wire. It’s been told before, and we were right there at the end, and I wished him good luck. Understood, Coach Saban is an unbelievable coach and certainly his success speaks for itself, but also just as a defensive backs coach. And I totally understood and was pulling for him in his freshman year, and you could tell — my family and wife and kids were all pulling for him, because he’s just a unique talent and great person and great family.

“Then when Coach retired and he was in the portal, it was an opportunity to reconnect with him. And I think he had great relationships with our players, and it’s been great to see him this year really flourish within our culture, and you see the best version of him now.”

While Caleb Downs didn’t begin his career at Ohio State, he’s become a true member of the Buckeyes over the course of the 2024 campaign. If he’s able to lead the program to a national title come Monday, he’ll certainly always have a home in Columbus, as well as Ryan Day’s affection.

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