Alabama safety Caleb Downs expected to enter transfer portal

Star Alabama football safety, Caleb Downs, is expected to enter the transfer portal after just one season with the Crimson Tide.

True freshman 5⭐️ S Caleb Downs this season:

-Leads Alabama in tackles
-2 INTs
-1 forced fumble
-1 fumble recovery
-And now, a punt return touchdownpic.twitter.com/g37yq6JHQC

— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 18, 2023

Downs, a former five-star prospect out of Mill Creek High School, was the top safety in his class as well as the no. 1 overall player in Georgia in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Georgia and Ohio State are expected to be making a run at him as he will have three years of college eligibility remaining.

The former Mill Creek Hawk was recruited heavily by former Alabama defensive backs coach, Travaris Robinson. Robinson accepted a role as Co-Defensive Coordinator at the University of Georgia over the weekend which lead many to suspect Downs will be a Bulldog by the time the season starts.

Downs becomes the seventh defensive back for Alabama to enter his name into the portal after the retirement of former Alabama head coach, Nick Saban last week.

In his time with the Crimson Tide, Downs primarily played in the back end of the Alabama defense as a safety, registering two interceptions as well as a forced and recovered fumble. Downs became a key part of the Crimson Tide special teams, returning punts in the last four games of the season, including one for a touchdown.

In his lone season under Saban, Downs led the team with 107 total tackles, becoming the first freshman to lead the team in the category in program history.

Downs will become a sought-after player in the transfer portal. He will become a very high priority and will be heavily recruited by the top programs in the country.