Alabama freshman safety Caleb Downs plans to enter transfer portal

Alabama safety Caleb Downs plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Downs is the seventh Crimson Tide player to plan to enter the transfer portal after head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement. Players have an additional 30-day window to transfer with a coaching change. This comes after the 30-day window window in December.

Playing in, and starting, all 14 games of the Crimson Tide’s 2023-24 season, Downs became the first Alabama freshman to lead the team in tackles in program history, according to UA. His 107 tackles were 40 more than second-place Deontae Lawson (67), they were the fourth-most in the SEC and they were the most by a Tide freshman in the last 50-plus years.

Downs’ 70 solo tackles were also the most in the conference in 2023 and good for 14th place among FBS defensive players. The first-year safety recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble this past season and returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown in Alabama’s home finale against the Chattanooga Mocs, too.

Downs was previously named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year by the FWAA and was selected as a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and Sporting News. He was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year by both the league coaches and AP and earned first-team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC accolades from the 14 coaches.

“Caleb is a very special person in terms of his maturity, his leadership,” Saban said before the Rose Bowl. “He’s sort of a driven guy to really learn and grow and understand. I’ve never seen anybody make a commitment to – the first day he got there coming up in the offense every day, learning the defense, learning the coverage, learning the adjustments.

“He’s a very instinctive player. He loves playing football. He’s a great competitor. He’s played really, really well for us all season long, probably as well as any freshman player we’ve ever had in the secondary.”

A huge loss for the Alabama defense, Downs is the seventh Tide defensive back to enter the transfer portal since the December window opened, and the fourth since Saban retired. UA also lost three starters in the secondary to the NFL draft, including both outside cornerbacks.

Alabama players in the transfer portal

Tyler Buchner, QB (Notre Dame, lacrosse)
Ja’Corey Brooks, WR (Louisville)
Isaiah Hastings, DL (Syracuse)
Anquin Barnes, DL (Colorado)
Shazz Preston, WR (Tulane)
Miles Kitselman, TE (Tennessee)
Terrence Ferguson, OL (Florida State)
Seth McLaughlin, OL (Ohio State)
Eli Holstein, QB (Pittsburgh)
Kristian Story, DB (Kentucky)
Malik Benson, WR (Florida State)
Earl Little, DB (Florida State)
Monkell Goodwine, DL (South Carolina)
Ian Jackson, LB
Roydell Williams, RB (Florida State)
Jake Pope, DB (Georgia)
Kendrick Blackshire, LB (Texas)
Isaiah Bond, WR (Texas)
Dezz Ricks, DB (Texas A&M)
Antonio Kite, DB
Shawn Murphy, LB (Florida State)
Amari Niblack, TE
Trey Amos, DB
Caleb Downs, DB

Keep up with movement from around the country with On3’s Transfer Portal Wire.

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