COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday.
The national honor is awarded annually to the best defensive back in college football.
In seven games, Downs has collected 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
He is in his first season with the Buckeyes after transferring from Alabama in January following legendary coach Nick Saban’s retirement.
Downs led the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles last season en route to being the freshman of the year in the Southeastern Conference.
Finalists will be announced on Nov. 26 — four days before OSU’s regular season finale against Michigan.
The award has been handed out annually since 1986. Ohio State’s last winner was Malcolm Jenkins in 2008. The only other Buckeye to collect the honor was Antoine Winfield in 1998.
Iowa’s Desmond King (2015) is the last Big Ten player to win the award.
Big Ten issues statement on Michigan-Michigan State incident
The Big Ten has elected to take no further action in administering discipline after an altercation following the conclusion of Saturday’s game between Michigan and Michigan State.
Following the Wolverines’ final kneel-down to end the contest, Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and Michigan State defensive lineman Anthony Jones got into a confrontation.
The altercation grew bigger as other players joined the mix.
“Amidst the confrontation, student athletes from both teams were on the ground and surrounded by so many individuals that both players were completely obscured from view,” the conference said in a statement. “The video review was inconclusive as to whether individual discipline was appropriate for anyone in the immediate vicinity of the two players who were on the ground.”
Key dates
- Ohio State at Penn State: 3 days, Nov. 2
- First CFP Rankings: 6 days, Nov. 5
- The Game 2024: 31 days, Nov. 30
- Big Ten Championship Game: 38 days, Dec. 7
- Early Signing Period: 51 days, Dec. 20-22
- National Championship Game: 82 days, Jan. 20, 2025