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Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is officially a Buckeye after losing his black stripe in spring practice
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is officially a Buckeye after losing his black stripe in spring practice

Originally posted on A to Z Sports  |  By Brandon Little  |  Last updated 3/26/24

Perhaps the biggest addition for the Ohio State Buckeyes is now officially a part of the team.

While he was already on the team, his helmet still daunted the black stripe, so Caleb Downs had to lose that to officially call himself a Buckeye. The former five star recruit that played his freshman season at Alabama has shed that black stripe.

Downs left Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement and landed with the team that was second to Alabama for his services out of high school. As a Freshman All-American, Downs started for Alabama and had 107 tackles and two interceptions.

Now, Downs is on pace to be a very crucial part of the defense for Ohio State in 2024 as part of Jim Knowles’ unit. He will start with Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles has moved to linebacker. It is in line to be quite the story since the Buckeyes wanted him so bad out of high school. 

Downs is the second fastest transfer to lose their black stripe with Justin Fields edging him out by a single day back in 2019 after coming over from Georgia.

Overall, Downs joins WR Jeremiah Smith as the two Buckeyes to have shed their black stripe already. 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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