Caleb Downs is the best defensive back in college football.
During ESPN's College Football Awards show on Friday, the Ohio State safety won the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Downs was crowned the winner over two fellow finalists, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore.
Downs has collected 60 tackles with five tackles for loss, two interceptions and two pass breakups for the Buckeyes this year, but his impact reaches far beyond those statistics. A do-it-all weapon in the Ohio State secondary, he's played 229 snaps as a deep safety, 210 snaps in the box and 135 snaps in the slot, per Pro Football Focus.