Ohio State safety Caleb Downs signs exclusive NIL deal with Panini America

After transferring from Alabama, Caleb Downs made an immediate impact at Ohio State this season to help the Buckeyes to a national championship berth. Ahead of that matchup against Notre Dame, he signed an NIL deal with Panini America.

Downs announced his exclusive partnership with the trading card company Thursday afternoon. With a $2.3 million On3 NIL Valuation, he joins a roster of athletes such as Arch Manning and Zachariah Branch, as well as teammate Julian Sayin and Ohio State signee Tavien St. Clair. Downs is the first defensive player to sign exclusively with Panini.

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Downs is a key piece of the Ohio State defense after arriving as a top-ranked transfer. His deal with Panini America is the latest notable addition to his portfolio, which includes a five-figure deal with Rhoback. Downs also has a seven-figure deal with the NIL collective, THE Foundation, further enhancing his growing list of endorsements

“I’m excited to join the Panini Family through this exclusive partnership and look forward to sharing my journey through trading cards,” Downs said in a statement. “As a kid you always dream of getting your own card, and seeing the detail Panini puts into the collection makes this moment even more special.”

Downs was a unanimous All-American this season as he became the centerpiece of Jim Knowles’ defense. He enters the College Football Playoff national championship with 77 tackles, including a career-high eight tackles for loss, along with a half-sack and two interceptions.

Repped by Excel Sports Management, Downs has also been able to capitalize in the NIL space. He inked deals with American Eagle Outfitters and Beats by Dre, in addition to his agreement with Rhoback, during the 2024 season.

Caleb Downs’ On3 NIL Valuation ranks No. 17 in the college football NIL rankings and No. 21 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation. It’s also No. 2 on the Ohio State roster, only behind star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

“We’ve had a chance to get know Caleb over the last few years and are excited to welcome Caleb to the family as the first exclusive defensive NIL player,” said Jason Howarth, Panini America’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations. “Caleb is one of those special playmakers on the field and that’s something we noticed going into this season, more importantly he’s an even greater guy off the field.”