Overview
- Organizers announced the award Friday, making Downs the Buckeyes’ first winner since 2008 and placing him alongside Malcolm Jenkins and Antoine Winfield.
- Downs posted 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and two pass breakups for a unit that led FBS at 213.5 yards and 8.2 points allowed per game.
- Ohio State sits at 12–1 after a 13–10 Big Ten title game defeat and holds the CFP No. 2 seed, with a Cotton Bowl quarterfinal on December 31 at AT&T Stadium against the Miami–Texas A&M winner.
- He prevailed over fellow finalists Mansoor Delane of LSU and Leonard Moore of Notre Dame.
- A five-star who starred at Alabama before transferring after Nick Saban’s retirement, Downs anchored Ohio State’s 2024 championship defense and is viewed as a top 2026 NFL prospect.