Ryan Day's thought for Caleb Downs' offense was born earlier than he dedicated to Ohio State

2024-06-27 16:22:29

Michael Cohen

Faculty soccer and faculty basketball author

When Caleb Downs arrives at Ohio State for an official go to in June 2022, the five-star security has taken comparable visits to Georgia, Notre Dame and Alabama within the weeks earlier than. He heard pitches from among the greatest head coaches and defensive minds in faculty soccer and knew all of them had been hungry for his expertise. General, they consider Cities has uncommon potential. Brother of Josh Downs.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day clearly agrees together with his colleagues throughout the game in that regard. Cities is coming off an unimaginable profession at Mill Creek Excessive Faculty in Hoschton, Ga., the place he was rated the No. 6 general prospect within the 2023 recruiting cycle and the No. 1 security within the nation. The Buckeyes additionally covet his expertise for plug-and-play potential in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme.

However there was one side of Ohio State’s efficiency that set it aside from different colleges into consideration when Cities, who earned All-America honors final season at Alabama, entered the switch portal in January after his head coach unexpectedly retired. , a tantalizing twist as soon as once more introduced itself to Nick Saban. Two summers in the past, as Cities sat together with his household in Dye’s workplace — a month earlier than he lastly dedicated to the Crimson Tide — the Buckeyes The staff’s coach performed highlights of what Cities was doing on the staff. offense at Mill Creek after which match them up with ideas from the Ohio State playbook. Day already appears to be envisioning the potential for enjoying a twin position.

“Actually, he confirmed all of the clips of Kaleb lining up at operating again, lining up on offense and saying, ‘We did one thing like that, or we had Related packages, and there was a chance that you possibly can do this stuff in faculty, and that was earlier than going to varsity, earlier than going to Alabama, they had been the one college that actually introduced it up.

As artistic as Day’s imaginative and prescient may need been, when Cities in the end selected Alabama, the proposal appeared destined to die on the slicing room ground. He turned the Crimson Tide’s first freshman to steer in tackles (107) since no less than 1970, based on this system’s sports activities data division, and was chosen by Professional Soccer Focus, The Related Press and Sporting Information. All-American. If Saban stays at Alabama, there is no purpose for Cities to depart and no purpose for Ohio State’s two-way program to resurface. However that’s life in trendy faculty soccer.

Cities, who joined the Buckeyes two days after getting into the portal, may play part-time on offense at Ohio State, an concept that was injected into the information cycle by Day himself throughout a press convention final week. Day responded to questions on Ohio State’s operating again depth by telling reporters that Cities has participated in operating again conferences and place drills all through the spring along with his major position as beginning security. The headlines appeared virtually instantly.

“We mentioned this through the first recruiting course of and the second time extra particularly,” Day mentioned. “So he is been round for some time, simply to get a really feel for it. We did little or no within the spring. I believe we provided him an choice or one thing like that within the spring simply to maintain him going. However we’ll see .

Given Cities’ pedigree and historical past on the place, his addition at operating again is simply a nominal introduction. Gary Downs, 52, ran for greater than 800 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior at North Carolina State College in 2003. ) was drafted by the New York Giants and spent a part of his profession. He later turned to teaching and handed on the knowledge and genes of his 6-foot, 212-pound body to his two sons: Josh Downs, the Colts’ third general choose in 2023 extensive receiver, and Caleb Downs, a 6-foot extensive receiver.

Cities adopted in his father’s footsteps, actually and figuratively, getting into soccer as a operating again at age 6, though he additionally performed linebacker. He scored 46 touchdowns in his first season of youth soccer in suburban Atlanta’s Gwinnett County, wowing dad and mom on each side of the aisle with an array of soar cuts, spins and stiff arms not typically seen at his age. Incessantly. Gary Cities mentioned his imaginative and prescient is so good that he can break free from a crowd close to the road of scrimmage with nobody round or chasing him.

“It is like God simply appointed him or gave him the power to play soccer,” Gary Cities mentioned. “Particularly enjoying operating again.”

Cities rapidly started to soak up every part his father handed on to his older brother, who additionally performed operating again on the youth staff. He would arrange cones and dummies on the sideline the place his brother practiced to mimic any drill he noticed, particularly those who simulated correct pad ranges and driving throughout the objective line to attain. He started studying particular strategies and drills about operating backs from his father. When he was in center college, Gary Cities, the operating backs coach at East Tennessee State College, was attempting to finish the each day operating again footwork drills his father despatched him.

Everybody within the soccer world knew Cities was a linebacker from the second he began enjoying soccer as a freshman at Mill Creek. Even the summer season earlier than Cities entered highschool, the primary scholarship provide from then-Kent State head coach Sean Lewis was to play operating again on the subsequent stage.

“I have been coaching with my dad and my brother since I used to be 4 or 5 years previous,” Cities advised reporters in late January when requested in regards to the depth of Ohio State’s offseason exercises. “I don’t need to say I used to be born for this, however on the finish of the day, I’ve been doing this since I used to be a child.”

It was Cities’ want to play varsity straight away that in the end prompted his change from operating again to security, a transfer that swapped the previous’s veteran depth chart for a evident gap within the latter. He ready for the change by enjoying defensive again in faculty camps over the summer season earlier than enrolling at Mill Creek. He then made it by his first season “with nice instincts and athleticism,” Gary Cities mentioned, and nonetheless had 5 interceptions.

Despite the fact that Cities has his future locked in — and has racked up one accolade after one other alongside the way in which: sophomore All-American, junior All-American, Area 8 Defensive Participant of the Yr — he continues to excel in all points. Impression the sport. In his junior season alone, he reached the tip zone on 4 runs, two receptions, two interceptions and a kickoff return, ending with a landing go. In his senior 12 months, he ran for 334 yards on offense, handed for 370 yards, and had 5 interceptions on protection.

“Most children can’t play a number of positions or play offense and protection,” Gary Downs mentioned. “However even on protection [at Alabama], Caleb performed security (593 snaps) and nickelback (268 snaps) and may even play some nook (28 snaps). So he is finished this earlier than. He can deal with it mentally and bodily. Likewise, he can deal with each ends of the ground. In order a child, he was a soccer participant, he was an athlete and you really liked him having enjoyable and doing no matter he may to assist his staff.

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The scenario at Ohio State is unclear, contemplating TreVeyon Henderson and Mississippi State switch Quinshon Judkins are atop the operating again depth chart. If each gamers stay wholesome for the 2024 season, Cities is unlikely to contribute regularly, a reality his father has publicly acknowledged. If something, Gary Downs envisions touching the ball a couple of times per recreation, maybe solely late within the season to present unsuspecting opponents an undetected alternative.

Besides, it was sufficient for Cities to show the scenario round. He returned 4 punts for Alabama final season, changing one among them for an 85-yard landing.

“The place it went, I actually do not know now,” Day mentioned. “However I do know he is succesful [play running back]. He has the power to do that. We’ll see the place it goes and the way he performs.

Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and basketball for FOX Sports activities, specializing in the Large Ten Convention. Observe him on Twitter: @Michael_Cohen13.