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BREAKING: Five-Star Safety Caleb Downs Flips Commitment from Ohio State to Tennessee Vols
Knoxville, TN – September 5, 2025
In one of the most stunning recruiting flips in recent memory, Caleb Downs, the No. 1 safety in the class of 2023, has officially flipped his commitment from Ohio State to the Tennessee Volunteers, sending shockwaves across the college football landscape.
Downs, a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top overall prospects in the nation regardless of position, had previously committed to the Buckeyes and was considered a cornerstone of their defensive future. Now, he’ll be bringing his elite talent to Rocky Top, aligning with a Tennessee program that continues to surge under the national spotlight.
> “This one’s for the fans. Time to go to work,” Downs wrote in a statement on social media, tagging Tennessee’s official football account and closing with the hashtag #ForTheFans.
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Who Is Caleb Downs?
A product of Mill Creek High School in Georgia, Downs is widely regarded as a generational talent at the safety position. Standing at 6-foot, 205 pounds, he possesses elite football IQ, sideline-to-sideline speed, and the kind of physicality that has NFL scouts already tracking his progress.
247Sports Composite Rank: No. 1 Safety, No. 9 Overall Player (Class of 2023)
Rivals Rank: No. 1 Safety, Top 10 Overall
Offers: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and more
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Why the Flip to Tennessee?
While Downs had long been committed to Ohio State, sources close to the recruitment suggest a combination of factors played into the last-minute flip:
Tennessee’s defensive resurgence under the current coaching staff
A clear path to becoming a centerpiece in Knoxville’s secondary
Strong relationships with Tennessee’s DB coaches and former SEC players
A growing brand and NIL presence connected to the Vols’ national rise
One recruiting analyst put it simply:
> “Tennessee made a statement — they’re not just chasing championships, they’re building dynasties.”
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Impact on Tennessee’s Defense
Downs is expected to immediately elevate the Vols’ secondary, giving them a dynamic, ball-hawking safety who can play deep, in the box, or even cover slot receivers. He brings leadership, championship experience, and a relentless mindset to a defense that has already made major strides in the SEC.
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Vol Nation Reacts
The Tennessee fanbase erupted with excitement after the announcement. Within minutes, “Caleb Downs” and #RockyTop were trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans, alumni, and former players chiming in:
“We just got the BEST safety in America. Let’s GO!”
“Caleb Downs just flipped the entire SEC script.”
“This is a Josh Heupel era W. Tennessee ain’t playing around.”
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A New Powerhouse?
With this commitment flip, Tennessee continues to prove it’s no longer a team climbing — it’s a program arriving. Add Caleb Downs to a roster that already features elite talent on both sides of the ball, and the Volunteers may be ready to make serious postseason noise — not just in the SEC, but nationally.
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Bottom line:
Caleb Downs is coming to Rocky Top.
And the rest of college football just felt the tremor.
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