Scarlet Sunrise: Caleb Downs named unanimous first-team All-American

COLUMBUS — Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News on Tuesday. With that honor, Downs became part of an elite group of Buckeyes players in the history of the program.

With that inclusion on the fifth and final All-America team that is counted toward unanimous status, Downs became the 34th Ohio State player in history to be named a unanimous first-team All-American.

Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson is also a first-team selection from The Sporting News. Center Seth McLaughlin was named a second-team All-American from The Sporting News; he was a first-team selection on three of the five to become a consensus All-American. Both Downs and McLaughlin will get a tree in Buckeye Grove for their honors.

Downs is the fourth safety in Ohio State history to become a unanimous All-American. The other three are: Jack Tatum (1970), Mike Doss (2002) and Malik Hooker (2016).

Caleb Downs has 62 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three pass deflections and an interception — which came last weekend in the loss to Michigan — on the season. He also has a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown to his name this year.

He won the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year award and was a finalist for the Thorpe Award — but didn’t win the honor.

Now he has made the first-team All-American list from The Sporting News, the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America. That makes him a unanimous first-team All-American.

Minnesota offensive line transfer Phillip Daniels signs with Ohio State

Minnesota transfer offensive lineman Phillip Daniels has signed with Ohio State. The Buckeyes needed to restock the offensive line this offseason and the former Golden Gopher is their first addition.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Daniels appeared in 11 games for Minnesota during the 2024 season. He made four starts at right tackle and only allowed one sack on 158 pass block snaps. Daniels redshirted as a true freshman during the 2023 season.

Daniels had above average grades this season at Minnesota. He has an overall grade of 62.5 with a 66.7 run block grade and 65.4 pass block grade.

Ohio State will lose both starting offensive tackles to the NFL Draft after the season. Left tackle Josh Simmons has already declared for the draft as recovers from a season-ending injury that he suffered in the Buckeyes loss to Oregon. Right tackle Josh Fryar has exhausted his eligibility and he will likely get a shot to play in the NFL as well. 

Buckeyes safety Jayden Bonsu will enter transfer portal

Ohio State safety Jayden Bonsu has entered the transfer portal.

He will have three seasons of eligibility wherever he ends up playing next.

Jayden Bonsu is one of two Ohio State first-year safeties who joined the program last June. The other, Cedrick Hawkins Jr., transferred to UCF last offseason. Both committed to play for now-former Ohio State safeties coach and current Toledo cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano.

Before starting his Buckeyes career, Bonsu was the No. 4 New Jersey prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Bonsu turned in a productive final two seasons at St. Peter’s Prep, which also produced current Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon.

Bonsu earned some first-team safety reps this offseason as Lathan Ransom worked back from a foot injury, and Bonsu looked like he could be in line to push for a role this season during the spring.

But that never materialized for Bonsu. Now he’s entering the transfer portal to find his next college football stop after two seasons at Ohio State.

Counting down

Tennessee at Ohio State: 2 days
Ohio State at Michigan: 346 days

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