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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Josh Keatley

Ohio State defensive star named top 2026 prospect to watch

The 2025 NFL draft is still a while away and few people are thinking about it, but even fewer people are thinking about the 2026 NFL Draft. That won’t stop the good people at Pro Football Focus thinking about some potential top prospects for that year’s edition.

One Ohio State defensive star has made PFF’s list of top 2026 prospects to watch. The hype surrounding safety, Caleb Downs, is insane for the Buckeyes right now and rightfully so as he turned in a freshman All-American caliber season for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

PFF notes that Downs was the clear best player in a talented Alabama defensive backfield. The incoming transfer finished last season with the ninth best overall grade for safeties and fifth best coverage grade for all safeties.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

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