Star Alabama safety Caleb Downs plans on entering the transfer portal, ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported on Wednesday morning.
Downs earned an abundance of honors during his debut 2023 season including SEC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-American honors.
The Hoschton, Georgia native totaled 107 tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions and one forced fumble as the Crimson Tide’s starting safety last year. Downs was the first Alabama defender to lead the team in tackles as a freshman since at least 1970.
Downs totaled nine tackles in the Crimson Tide’s 34-20 win over Tennessee in Tuscaloosa last October.
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Tennessee is in major need of safety help in the transfer portal after losing 2023 starters Jaylen McCollough (graduation) and Wesley Walker (transfer portal). However, Georgia appears to be the early favorite to land Downs in the transfer portal according to reports.
Georgia finished runner up in Downs’ recruitment the first time but Downs reportedly hasn’t made up his mind on where he’ll transfer yet.
It’s been a week since Nick Saban announced his retirement and Alabama has lost a number of players in the transfer portal since including receiver Isaiah Bond (Texas), cornerback Dezz Ricks (Texas A&M), linebacker Shawn Murphy (Florida State) and a number of other players.
