It Didn't Take Long for Caleb Downs to Become a Star On and Off the Field at Alabama
PASADENA, Calif. — People don't walk in and play at Alabama.
One could probably count on their fingers the number of true freshmen to start from the beginning of their career with the Crimson Tide under Nick Saban.
This season, Alabama has two, including true freshman standout defensive back Caleb Downs, who needs no introduction. Downs leads — yes leads — the Crimson Tide with 99 total tackles on the year — next up is Jihaad Campbell ... with 65. He also has two interceptions, a forced fumble and recovery, and a punt-return touchdown.
To be frank, Downs looks like he was made in a lab somewhere in Tuscaloosa. Even in high school, he had the makeup of a professional defensive back. His technique is sound, his pursuit is devastating for opponents and he is very smart.
It sounds outlandish, but Downs would probably be a first-round pick if he was eligible for next year's draft. Fortunately for Alabama fans, he has two years of school left.
A four-year talent at Mill Creek in Georgia, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs were very much on the radar to land him. But Saban and secondary coach Travaris Robinson were the main factors in his college decision. That, and a higher calling, as well.
"Really just Coach Saban and everything that he stood for," Downs said to BamaCentral. "The program that he’s created, the winning program. I had a really good relationship with Coach T-Rob, so that was a great pull for me. To be honest, I feel like God wanted me to be here, to be on Alabama."
"[Saban] never changes. I feel like everybody sways from day to day, but he’s just the same since the day I met him. That is something that I can’t … I don’t understand how he does it."
Downs has been a part of an improved Crimson Tide secondary in 2023-24. A lot of that has to do with Robinson, who has quickly become a player favorite.
"[Robinson's] a great coach," Downs said. "He relates to his players very well, I think that’s the big thing, because it allows the DBs to play so well. Everybody knows that they can talk to him about anything. He’s a great coach and he’s a big reason why we’re here today."
Coming into Alabama, the expectations were extremely high. Downs was the top-rated safety in the Class of 2023, and a top-10 player overall. Somehow, he has completely eviscerated those expectations.
But it wasn't always easy. Downs struggled down the stretch in the Crimson Tide's 34-24 loss to Texas in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 9. But that was just a part of his journey, one that put him in the spotlight early into his college career.
"It was very difficult," Downs said. "It was something that you had to come in and have the right mindset to do. I think I had the support I needed from my coaches and the people around me. The big thing for me was just the belief that God had a plan for me, so coming in, a belief that he had a plan for me to do something to contribute to the team. That was a big thing for me."
They say if one surrounds themself with the right people, good thing will likely come their way. Downs befriended two of Alabama's biggest team leaders early on, cornerback Terrion Arnold and quarterback Jalen Milroe.
"I’ll give it to Terrion, he invited me to go be with him one time and that was a big thing," Downs said. "After that, we’ve just been brothers ever since."
"Created a relationship with Jalen Milroe — he’s a great person, too. You can ask him anything, so I’ve learned a lot from him as well. Now, I don’t look at [Arnold and Milroe] as older heads, they’re just my brothers now."
The future is extremely bright for Downs, who is already making waves on the field and in the locker room. And he's not going anywhere anytime soon.
