How Alabama transfers Caleb Downs, Seth McLaughlin impact the Ohio State defense, offense in 2024

Ohio State is one of the presumptive favorites in college football this season, a standing helped by what the Buckeyes were able to accomplish in the transfer portal.

Two of the key additions in Columbus were former Alabama players — never a bad place to grab a transfer from — in Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin. The two guys come with very different public perceptions, but Andy Staples and Cody Bellaire believe both will prove to be impactful pieces of the offense and defense, respectively.

They explained as much on Friday’s On3 YouTube live show, starting with Downs.

Caleb Downs: ‘generational’ talent?

Cody Bellaire basically summed up rising true sophomore as the ideal safety prospect.

“At the safety position, there’s three dimensions of the game that they can affect: the ability to play man coverage, the ability to play zone, and the ability to stop the run,” Bellaire said of Downs. “If you have a player that excels at two of those, you have a damn good football player. If you have a player that can do all three, you have a generational talent — and Caleb Downs can do all three.

“If I’m Ryan Day and I just got this caliber of player on the defensive side of the ball, I am playing him anywhere and everywhere on that defense and just letting him go hunt,” Bellaire added. “That’s what the best ones do. You say ‘go play ball’ and they do it.”

By being turned loose, Cody Bellaire expects Caleb Downs to wreak complete havoc on opposing offenses.

“I think the result of that will be forced turnovers and stops. Turnovers and stops turn into wins and wins turn into championships,” Bellaire said. “The bonus of that is you can play games with offenses. Caleb Downs had the most tackles on Alabama’s defense last year as a true freshman. He knows how to play against the run. The DC at Ohio State has to just be giggling when it comes to scheming things up and how he can deploy all these types of weapons.”

Seth McLaughlin is a cherry on top

Moving over to Seth McLaughlin, the former Crimson Tide center was spotlighted in the College Football Playoff when his poor snaps helped lead to the end of Nick Saban’s career against Michigan in that semifinal matchup.

“Seth McLaughlin, one of the more talked-about offensive linemen in College Football Playoff history, because he was the center who had problems snapping the ball to Jalen Milroe in the Rose Bowl against Michigan,” recalled Andy Staples.

However, Cody Bellaire is through with the embarrassment and ready to see the former ‘Bama O-linemen thrive.

“He did, but that’s not the player’s identity, which is something I need the college football community to remember,” said Bellaire. “Like, Seth McLaughlin is going to be an NFL Draft pick, he’s a dominant interior offensive lineman.

“To me, this is a cherry on top of the sundae type of player for Ohio State,” Bellaire said. “Did OSU have a huge need on the offensive front? I wouldn’t say so. I think when you look at it, McLaughlin is an absolute treat on top of a solid offensive front.”