Caleb Downs Rated No. 4 Among Top 2026 NFL Draft Prospects Ahead of Texas-Ohio State Season Opener

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has been ranked No. 4 on The Athletic’s preseason list of top 50 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft, the publication announced today, August 30, 2025.

The ranking, compiled by draft analyst Dane Brugler, highlights Downs’s reputation as one of college football’s most versatile defensive players, noting that although he may lack elite top-end speed, his adaptability and football IQ make him an appealing candidate for NFL schemes. Downs, a unanimous All-American in 2024 and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, will face No. 1 Texas this afternoon in Columbus as part of one of the most anticipated openers of the season.