Report: Two College Football Powers Are Leaders for No. 1 Transfer in Country From Alabama
In a wild month of upheaval for the Alabama football program, Wednesday brought some tough news for new coach Kalen DeBoer in his staff. Two key starters from the 2023 College Football Playoff semifinalist squad entered the transfer portal: offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and freshman All-American safety Caleb Downs.
In total, 28 Alabama players have entered the transfer portal so far this offseason.
As of Thursday, Downs has taken over as the consensus No. 1 player in the transfer portal based on rankings from the four main recruiting services: ESPN, On3, Rivals and 247Sports. That is for good reason: He became one of Alabama’s top defenders as a true freshman, registering 107 total tackles and two interceptions in 2023.
According to multiple reports, Georgia and Ohio State stand out in Downs’s new recruitment, with the Bulldogs as a logical favorite given the recent move of Crimson Tide defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson to Kirby Smart’s staff in Athens.
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Like Alabama and Georgia, Ohio State was a finalist for Downs as a high school recruit, along with Notre Dame.
Gary Downs, Caleb’s father and the running backs coach at East Tennessee State, told 247 that his son should have a decision within 48 hours, limiting the amount of outside recruiting that he’ll receive.
“Our time is so short and we don’t have time to look at a lot of unknowns,” Gary Downs told 247 after his son entered the portal. “It has to be previous relationships with people. We want to try and find a place with stability, the same coach and same coordinators, knowing you have to be prepared for change.”
He added that Alabama is “essentially a new football program” given the staff overhaul after Nick Saban’s retirement and the consequent hiring of DeBoer. That being said, the family doesn’t regret him spending the ’23 season in Tuscaloosa.
”Even if he knew Saban was going to retire at the end of this season, he probably still would’ve done it,” Gary Downs told 247. “He still would’ve gone through with it and went to play for him. He was that instrumental. His Xs and Os, his scheme, his wisdom, he’d come home and talk about what Nick said.”