Caleb Downs could start playing running back for the Ohio State Buckeyes this upcoming season. This is a shocking development as Downs was one of the best safeties in all of college football as a true freshman last year. Downs transferred in the offseason, leaving Alabama for Ohio State after Nick Saban retired. He may not have expected a potential position change though.

Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day told reporters that Caleb Downs has been attending running back meetings. This doesn’t seem to make much sense. The Buckeyes have two of the top running backs in the country. TreVeyon Henderson made a surprise decision to come back to school for another year. Then, Quinshon Judskins left Ole Miss to join the Buckeyes. This duo is the best in the NCAA and will be relied upon heavily in the upcoming season.

Downs had a stellar season last year. As a true freshman, he was named to the All-SEC Second Team. This is extremely impressive, especially at his age. To step in, and right away be one of the top players on the Alabama Crimson Tide defense, is rare. Throughout the season Downs earned comparisons to former Crimson Tide safety, and NFL star Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Why Change Positions?

There’s not a clear answer to this. To have an elite safety with two years until he can go pro is an extreme luxury. He can be the star of the Buckeye’s defense. To lose him completely wouldn’t make sense. Perhaps they can deploy him on both sides of the ball, similar to Travis Hunter in Colorado. Not much reason too, however, as the Buckeyes have so much talent, they don’t need players going both ways. They don’t need the extra depth either. With two elite running backs, and the ability to recruit at a high level, they don’t need to move other players.

This simply doesn’t make sense for the Buckeyes. To take an elite safety, and move him, when you have two top-level running backs already, is a bad idea. It may happen this upcoming season though. Sometime this season, fans could see star safety Caleb Downs at running back.