Caleb Downs says he ‘didn’t want to leave’ Alabama immediately after Nick Saban retired

Caleb Downs is currently gearing up to play in the National Championship with Ohio State. 

Downs is expected to make his first start in a college championship game after transferring from Alabama after Nick Saban retired. 

AL.com asked Downs about the moment he knew he was transferring from Alabama on Saturday, and he revealed it was not immediately after Saban retired. 

“I didn’t know right away that I was gonna hit the portal,” Downs said. “They gave me the opportunity to stay. I stayed for actually six days, five days, just to feel out the new coaching staff, see who they were gonna hire and see if I could stay…At that point I really didn’t want to leave and I wanted to stick to the choice I made in high school to stay here. And it didn’t turn out that way.”