Ohio State star Caleb Downs revisits interest in growing his offensive role for Buckeyes after Ryan Day's plans were scrapped in 2024
The Ohio State Buckeyes had an embarrassment of talent riches in 2024, but head coach Ryan Day didn't shy away from creating a plan in case of emergency. The running back duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins was terrific, and the Buckeyes rarely used anyone other than those two. The receiver room also heavily […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes had an embarrassment of talent riches in 2024, but head coach Ryan Day didn't shy away from creating a plan in case of emergency. The running back duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins was terrific, and the Buckeyes rarely used anyone other than those two. The receiver room also heavily leaned on Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka.
The 2025 offense will be significantly different. With a new coordinator, quarterback, backfield, tight end, and without Egbuka, changes are coming. There's plenty of talent available to Brian Hartline and Day, but last year's emergency option might be a good alternative than a youngster.
Caleb Downs is destined to be a first-round round safety and is arguably the best defensive player in the country. But Day said he wanted to give Downs some backfield touches last summer, even if it never happened in-game. Could that happen again?
Downs talked to Cleveland.com's Buckeye Talk podcast with his brother, Colts receiver Josh Downs, and said he could play an offensive gadget role.
"I definitely feel like I could play that gadget guy, that slot receiver, that running back, whatever you want me at. I feel like I could do that for sure."
Here's what Day had said last year about the potential of the move.
Day admitted Downs had been attending running backs meetings throughout last spring and summer. Ohio State has a deep backfield that revolves around James Peoples and CJ Donaldson, but Downs is no less proven than any of the young quartet behind those two.
"Where it goes, we'll see, you never know. We're just trying to build contingency plans," Day stated. Downs never logged an offensive snap in 2024.
Downs' current Heisman Trophy odds are only +15000, so he's clearly a longshot. Outside of Travis Hunter, the last big-time two-way player in college football was Jabrill Peppers. The Michigan star finished fifth in Heisman voting in 2016 when he tallied 72 tackles, four sacks, one interception, 170 yards from scrimmage, four total touchdowns, and 570 return yards.
If Peppers' stats are the baseline of production for Downs, then he'll have to be quite active over the course of the regular season. The Buckeyes' defense scheme may not feed Downs as many tackles as Saban's, and turnovers are often more random than based on talent alone.
Day can control the touches Downs sees on offense, but the 6-foot, 200-pounder isn't used to handling the rock a ton or returning kicks. It's possible a hybrid role that gives him highlight-reel opportunities and red zone touches helps overcome the volume he'll never see.
