Dallas Cowboys defensive back and first-round pick Caleb Downs was so dominant in college that he got bored. Like, literally.
“Yeah, I’ll honestly say, yes, [I got bored with] the ball not coming my method,” Downs mentioned when requested if he received “bored” by groups not concentrating on him in faculty in an interview with 105.3 The Fan. “Perhaps the expertise [isn’t] pretty much as good that week. You do not at all times play high-level expertise each week in faculty, in order that’s one thing it’s a must to get used to. Typically, these video games, they’ll get boring simply due to the actual fact you play a crew that does not have pretty much as good of an offensive line, your D-Line will just about make all of the tackles.
“There would not actually be a lot to do these video games, so, [I] simply get tired of not being within the motion.”
The 2-time All-American security spent the final two seasons of his collegiate profession with the Ohio State Buckeyes (2024-25), preceded by one season with the Alabama Crimson Tide (2023). A five-star recruit, Downs transferred to Ohio State after his freshman season within the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement from teaching.
Downs totaled two interceptions in every of his three collegiate seasons. In Downs’ 2023 freshman marketing campaign, he led the SEC with 70 solo tackles, gained the Nationwide Championship at Ohio State in 2024 and was later the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
“I might say I am a defensive participant. Having the ability to play close to the road of scrimmage, having the ability to play within the second degree, third degree, having the ability to do lots of various things. You say a weapon, I might simply say a full-rounded participant,” Downs mentioned. “When you’re a full-rounded participant that may make performs on all sides of your protection and make your protection higher, that is who you need in your crew. Not essentially, ‘Oh, I need any person to have the ability to set the sting.’ That is nice, but when he does not essentially make the play, then it does not matter.
“On the finish of the day, you need playmakers, and that is what I’m.”
Dallas traded up one spot to pick Downs with the No. 11 choose, sending the No. 12, 177 and 180 picks to the Miami Dolphins to execute the trade-up. Later, the Cowboys traded again three spots with the Philadelphia Eagles, sending the No. 20 choose and a 2027 seventh-round choose to Philadelphia for picks No. 23, 114 and 137. At choose No. 23, Dallas chosen UCF Knights defensive finish Malachi Lawrence.
Downs and Lawrence be part of a Cowboys’ protection that was final within the NFL in opponent factors (30.1 per sport) and opponent passing yards (251.5 per sport), thirtieth in complete yards (377.0 per sport) and twenty third in opponent speeding yards (125.5 per sport) final season. They fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, changing him with former Eagles passing sport coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker.
Absolutely, Downs will not be “bored” on the subsequent degree.
