With Nick Saban retiring from coaching Alabama and college football in general, we're starting to see some players leave the Crimson Tide program via the transfer portal, including defensive back Caleb Downs.
BREAKING: Alabama DB Caleb Downs plans to Enter the Transfer Portal, @on3sports has learned
Downs totaled 107 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, & 2 INTs in 2023
Was named a Freshman All-American, SEC Freshman POY, & Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Yearhttps://t.co/HpJnzNGzYJ pic.twitter.com/3UqbGm1ESB
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 17, 2024
Downs, who primarily lined up at safety, was a freshman this year. He had 85 solo tackles this past season and missed 14 (11.4% miss rate); he allowed 33 receptions on 51 targets for 453 yards and two touchdowns; and he had two interceptions and one forced fumble.
As Hayes Fawcett of On3 points out in the X post above, he was named a Freshman All-American, SEC Freshman Player of the Year, and the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year.
This is a massive loss for Alabama.
However, with Saban retiring, the team has brought in Kalen DeBoer as its new head coach. DeBoer had coached the Washington Huskies, who made it to the College Football Playoff championship this year but lost to the Michigan Wolverines. He recently hired Kane Wommack, the former South Alabama head coach, as his defensive coordinator. They spent time together in Indiana in 2019.
A member of the 2023 recruiting class, Downs was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 1 safety, the No. 1 prospect from Georgia and the No. 5 prospect in the nation.
He's the son of Gary Downs, a former NFL running back who played seven seasons with the New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons.
His older brother, Joshua, is now a wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He played at North Carolina and was a four-star prospect.
Since Saban retired last week, several Alabama players have announced their intent to transfer, including star receiver Isaiah Bond, who's headed to Texas. We'll see which other Crimson Tide players leave and which stay.
We'll also monitor where Downs, a top defensive player for the Tide in 2023, lands for the 2024 season.
