Ohio State transfer Caleb Downs discusses his decision to transfer from Alabama to Ohio State after earning national freshman of the year in 2023.
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00:00 >> Around here, around the building has made it a really smooth transition.
00:04 It's definitely changed just because of the location moving, but
00:08 it's been a smooth transition because everybody around here is simply good people.
00:13 >> So why did you decide to transition?
00:15 How did that happen?
00:16 >> I just felt like it was the best decision for me.
00:19 At the end of the day, everybody's gotta do what they need to do for themselves.
00:22 And I think that's definitely the best decision.
00:24 >> I'm surprised you didn't.
00:25 >> Caleb, how did this work out?
00:27 >> Sorry.
00:28 >> My bad.
00:29 >> How surprised were you that Coach Senefian is retired,
00:32 obviously, I'm assuming if he had stayed, you would have stayed here?
00:35 >> It was a huge surprise walking into that meeting and
00:38 him saying that, my heart dropped for sure.
00:41 But at the end of the day, if that's what he felt was best for him,
00:44 I love him for it, and that's what he needed to do.
00:48 >> What made you decide to come here over Georgia?
00:54 >> I just love the program here.
00:57 I love Coach Walton and love what the people had to say around here.
01:00 I believe in Coach today and I believe in this team.
01:05 >> Caleb, maybe this is true, but
01:07 Ohio State finished second the first time around.
01:10 This race is at two firsts, almost.
01:11 >> No.
01:13 >> No.
01:14 >> [LAUGH]
01:15 >> But obviously, when they were recruiting
01:17 you still back a couple of years ago, the gym knows it's new here.
01:21 A lot of defensive staff was new here.
01:23 Maybe it was more telling you what it could look like.
01:25 And now, I guess seeing what it's looked like over the last few years as I maybe
01:28 match what they were telling me back then, what this could look like.
01:31 >> That's definitely true.
01:32 They played great defense last year.
01:34 And just seeing how, watching the film and seeing how they progress and
01:39 seeing how their defense played last year definitely helped me make a more sound
01:42 decision and have more confidence about what I'll be getting into.
01:46 >> Have they told you which of those safety spots they may be seeing you at
01:49 right now?
01:52 >> More so the Chester than the Bandit, but at the end of the day,
01:56 I just wanna play the right game.
01:59 >> Does this defense look like what they were pitching you on as recruiters?
02:03 Has it lived up to what they were trying to tell you it was gonna look like?
02:06 >> Yeah, it definitely has.
02:08 >> Okay, well, you mentioned the relationship with Coach Bolton.
02:10 What stands out about him as a recruiter?
02:13 So many people feel that he's a very- >> Very genuine person.
02:17 He always keeps it straight with you.
02:19 Everything that he says, it's come to fruition.
02:24 So I can't knack him on anything.
02:26 He's very close to my pops too.
02:28 We grew up together, so just knowing that relationship with him and
02:32 our relationship together, I trust him.
02:35 >> You started campaigning to return to us next year.
02:38 Is that something that you wanna keep doing?
02:40 Would you like to do that now?
02:41 >> I did like doing that, but at the end of the day, that's the coach's decision.
02:45 So I can't really speak on that right now.
02:48 >> What are your initial impressions of Matt Guerrero?
02:50 >> Great guy, very intelligent.
02:54 A lot to learn from him.
02:56 He knows his defense very well.
02:58 Just being able to learn from him and see how he sees the game.
03:02 I think that'll vary as regards to my development.
03:07 >> I know you don't wanna look backwards too much, cuz that doesn't matter.
03:10 But in those last 24 hours, as you started to narrow it down to decisions,
03:14 it seemed like from the outside looking in, it was a lot of back and forth.
03:17 Maybe in some way that was false reporting, maybe it wasn't.
03:20 But can you walk us through that last day when you went into the portal and
03:26 how you really broke down the decision?
03:28 >> Hey, how you doing, though?
03:29 >> I'm good, you been good?
03:30 >> I've been good.
03:31 There was definitely some back and forth.
03:34 There was a lot to think about, a lot to process between me and my family.
03:40 So it wasn't really much to say to the media or anything.
03:43 But at the end of the day, I made the decision and I'm here.
03:46 So I'm glad to be here.