Ohio State Star Caleb Downs Boldly Predicts 2025 Buckeyes Defense Can Match or Surpass Last Season’s No. 1-Ranked Unit

When Ohio State safety Caleb Downs transferred from Alabama to Columbus, expectations were sky-high. A former All-American and one of the nation’s most coveted defensive backs, Downs didn’t just bring his elite instincts and tackling ability—he brought a championship mindset. Now, with the 2025 season fast approaching, Downs is making waves with a bold claim: he believes the Buckeyes’ defense this fall can be every bit as dominant as last year’s unit, which finished No. 1 in the country in total defense.

That 2024 Buckeyes defense was, by all metrics, historically stingy. It allowed just 239.8 total yards per game, led the nation in points allowed (11.2 per game), and surrendered only 14 touchdowns over the course of the regular season. Under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the Buckeyes developed a reputation for bending rarely and breaking never. NFL talent littered all three levels, from JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer up front to Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers in the middle and Denzel Burke in the secondary. That group was physical, disciplined, and relentless.

But the 2025 version might be just as good—at least, according to Downs.

“I don’t say things just to get attention,” Downs told reporters after a recent workout. “I’ve played with great defenses at Alabama, and I was blessed to be part of something really special here last year. But the group we have now—man, we can be just as good or even better. The talent is here. The hunger is real. And our chemistry is next level.”

Downs isn’t alone in this belief. Across the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, confidence is growing that the 2025 Buckeyes may not just match their past dominance but evolve into something even more formidable. Returning a core group of starters and mixing in elite transfers and blue-chip freshmen, Ohio State’s defense is once again stacked from top to bottom.

Downs, who led the Buckeyes with 89 tackles last season, is already being talked about as a potential top-10 NFL Draft pick. His football IQ is off the charts, and his ability to anticipate routes and close on ball-carriers in the open field is unmatched. Yet it’s not just his individual play that gives him faith in this year’s defense—it’s the unit’s unity and shared mission.

“What sets us apart is how close we are,” Downs said. “We push each other, we trust each other, and we hold each other accountable. That’s what made last year’s group special, and this year’s even more.”

There are plenty of reasons for optimism. In the trenches, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry look poised to break out, giving the Buckeyes another ferocious edge-rushing tandem. Interior linemen like Ty Hamilton and Hero Kanu have bulked up and are ready to anchor the run defense. At linebacker, the emergence of CJ Hicks as a sideline-to-sideline playmaker has raised eyebrows, and sophomore Arvell Reese looks like a breakout candidate with his rare blend of speed and physicality.

But it’s in the secondary where the Buckeyes might be most dangerous. Downs is the anchor, the brain and brawn of the backend, but he’s flanked by versatile playmakers like safety Malik Hartford and cornerbacks Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Davison Igbinosun, who combined for seven interceptions last season. Freshmen like five-star Bryce West are pushing for reps too, creating a healthy competition that has made practice sessions feel like SEC Saturdays.

“You’ve got to bring your A-game every rep,” Downs said with a grin. “Because if you don’t, the guy behind you will.”

Downs also praised Jim Knowles for evolving as a play-caller and continuing to refine a scheme that mixes complexity with clarity.

“Coach Knowles has done a great job adjusting to our strengths,” Downs said. “He knows when to unleash the blitz and when to drop us into coverage. We disguise things so well now—quarterbacks can’t get a read.”

That versatility is key. In 2024, Ohio State’s defense thrived by disguising coverages, rotating safeties post-snap, and mixing in exotic fronts. Downs’ presence allows Knowles to do even more in 2025. With a player who can cover a slot receiver one play and drop into a deep zone the next, the defense can be fluid and unpredictable.

“You can’t scheme for just one look with us,” Downs said. “You might think we’re in man, but we’re in zone. You think it’s a blitz, but it’s a drop-eight. That’s the beauty of this group—we’re smart, we’re fast, and we’re locked in.”

Leadership is another strength. Downs isn’t just talking a good game—he’s backing it up with his example. Coaches have raved about his film study habits and work ethic. Teammates follow his lead in the weight room and on the field.

“He’s like a coach out there,” said linebacker Cody Simon. “He knows everyone’s assignments and can correct mistakes before the coaches even say anything. That’s rare.”

Ohio State’s schedule won’t make things easy, of course. Matchups against high-powered offenses like Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan will test the defense. But Downs sees those games as opportunities—not threats.

“We embrace the challenge,” he said. “Iron sharpens iron. We want to face the best and prove we belong at the top again.”

The Buckeyes enter the 2025 season with a chip on their shoulder. Despite their dominant defense in 2024, they fell short of the national title, losing in the College Football Playoff semifinal. That loss has haunted players like Downs, who came to Columbus to win championships.

“We didn’t finish last year,” he admitted. “We were close, but close doesn’t cut it at Ohio State. This year, the goal is to finish the job—and we know the defense has to lead the way.”

If the Buckeyes are to win their first national championship since 2014, it will likely be on the back of their defense. The offense, while talented, features a new quarterback and a revamped line. That makes Downs and the defense’s stability even more crucial.

“We don’t want to just be a top-five defense,” Downs said. “We want to be remembered as one of the best ever. That’s our standard now.”

Downs’ confidence is contagious. Around the facility, the mood is intense but focused. Players like Hicks, Igbinosun, and Mathews have echoed his statements in recent weeks, reinforcing the belief that the 2025 Buckeyes might have something truly special brewing on defense once again.

“We’re not chasing ghosts,” Downs said when asked about the comparisons to 2024. “We’re building our own identity. And trust me—people are going to know our name.”

For a program with as much defensive history as Ohio State, from the Silver Bullets era to the Bosa and Young years, living up to past greatness is never easy. But with Caleb Downs leading the charge, the 2025 Buckeyes defense is poised not just to match the bar—but raise it.

In a college football world increasingly dominated by offense, it’s Ohio State’s defense that could once again steal the spotlight. If Downs is right, fans in Columbus are in for a season they won’t forget.