Pete Thamel, ESPN
Alabama protection Caleb Downs, a second-team All-American in his freshman season, is headed to the NCAA switch portal, assets advised ESPN on Wednesday.
Downs earned a launch protection spot as a real freshman in 2023 and changed into the primary identified freshman to top the staff in tackles, in step with his college bio. He earned first-team All-SEC honors and was once the SEC’s Newcomer of the While.
Downs won diverse freshman All-The us honors and in addition won second-team All-The us honors for all gamers from The Related Press.
Downs completed fourth within the SEC in tackles with 107 and had a hand in 4 giveover with a pressured fumble, a recovered fumble and two interceptions. He additionally returned a punt 85 yards for a landing.
In opposition to Texas, he had 10 tackles and compelled a fumble, and he led the staff in tackles within the Wave’s Rose Bowl loss to Michigan.
Downs (6 ft, 203 kilos) initiatives as one of the crucial manage selections within the 2026 NFL draft. He’ll have two seasons too much anywhere he is going prior to draft eligibility. He’ll be probably the most gifted and coveted gamers to go into the switch portal this season. Former Alabama lecturer Nick Saban were surprisingly effusive in describing Downs’ ability and ceiling for a freshman.
On his radio display this season, Saban mentioned of Downs: “I think what impresses me most about Caleb Downs is his maturity. He’s a very instinctive football player, but this guy, there’s no arrogance about him, being one of the best players in the country at his position.”
Downs joins sophomore receiver Isaiah Bond as front-line Purple Wave gamers to go into the portal since Saban’s depart. Bond has since transferred to Texas.
Alabama’s offensive fold additionally took a collision Wednesday as launch left take on Kadyn Proctor introduced he’ll be coming into the switch portal.
Proctor, ESPN’s Negative. 10 total employ and Negative. 2 offensive take on within the 2023 magnificence, began all the way through the season and earned freshman All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches.
The 6-foot-7, 360-pound participant from Des Moines, Iowa, to start with dedicated to Iowa as a highschool employ prior to switching to Alabama. He additionally won vital passion from Oregon and alternative techniques.
Caleb Downs is the more youthful brother of Josh Downs, the Colts rookie extensive receiver who starred at North Carolina. Their father, Gary Downs, performed working again within the NFL for the Giants, Broncos and Falcons.
Coming into school, Caleb Downs selected Alabama over Georgia, Ohio Shape, Notre Dame and Clemson. He was once a five-star employ and ESPN’s Negative. 11 employ in 2023 popping out of highschool.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg contributed to this record.
