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Comments
Like I said in another article, the Ohio State Collective sealed this deal.
possibly, but thinking the amount of playing time at UGA may have been less vs OSU and Bama. I haven't looked to see what those two teams have returning, but guessing UGA returns more talent. Then you have the NIL money, guessing that OSU offered more.
I am certainly good with the decision, thought it could have possibly been a risky move any way (team chemistry).
What comes next? Maintaining the winning culture at UGA, and producing on the field. Something they've done very well the past 3 years, and will continue to do so in the future. And they've had all of their success without Caleb Downs on the roster, DAWGS will be just fine without him..GoDAWGS!
This is the part of college football that I don’t like at all and will be the downfall of the sport.
From what has been said, Downs never even made it public he had entered the portal. DIdn't sound like he wanted any fanfare. Until I read some direct quotes from someone where he said he was coming to UGA, then the talking heads just whiffed! Hey, it happens.
Good luck to Caleb Downs in Ohio. The Dawgs are strong in the secondary with talent and tons of new incoming talent. The Spring Game will be more than interesting to me this year.
The big story in all of this is Alabama's implosion in the wake of Nick Saban's retirement. With the this, the NCAA playoff expansion, Georgia's killer '24 schedule, the return of Carson Beck, I've never been more excited about an upcoming college season!
I don't see why people have to dump on Downs just because he picked another school. Had he selected UGA, we'd all be singing his praises.
Downs just finished the best freshman year for a safety in a long time -- even more impressive than Starks in '22, IMO. I mean: 107 tackles as a freshman in the SEC? Plus forced fumbles, TD returns, etc.?
He almost certainly would have started at UGA, pairing perfectly a strong safety with Malaki as free safety. But he would have had to share the limelight with Malaki.
Being the safety who gets all the media attention isn't just about ego; it''s also about how much the player is able to show off for the next level, which is a business consideration. With how much ground those two guys cover, the defensive backfield literally might not be big enough for the two of them!
I seriously doubt a young man like Downs is too lazy or afraid of the competition (as some commenters have speculated on this post and a couple of others -- based on less than hearsay). Maybe, there's a question about being a cultural fit. But given how hard Kirby's worked to get Downs over the years, it doesn't seem that Kirby was worried about the fit or his character.
The main decision may have been over NIL money (probably was). But he and his family have every right to consider dollars -- just like any of us.
I'm bound to think that he'd get the best development and best experience at UGA. But it's not as if OSU is a slouch: There are at least eight Ohio State DBs listed as "active" in the NFL versus just six for UGA. https://www.ourlads.com/ncaa-football-depth-charts/active-nfl-players-by-college/ohio-state/91533 (To be clear, I've always disliked OSU but that doesn't mean I have to turn a blind eye to the fact that it's an elite program.)
So given that he's apparently getting paid more, won't have to compete for the limelight and is going to a school with a very good track record for elite DBs, it wasn't an irrational decision.
Of course, I still think he'd have been wiser to come to Georgia. But we are so blessed with talent that sour grapes is a bad look. As someone above tweeted: UGA just plummeted from being the favorite for the 2024 natty to ... being favorite for the 2024 natty!
No dumping here. This guy is one of the best players of his generation. Not because of Caleb Downs, but I always hope tosu wins as many Natties as they did with Justin Fields.
Is it true this occurred because of a clerical era on UGA's part? If so when will they be fired?
We'll be alright. Kirby is blessed with talent everywhere on the team, especially on defense. Go DAWGS!!!
The more I see the title of this article, the more irritated I become. What's next for Georgia after 1 player, who was never a Dawg, goes somewhere else. Give us all a break. This implies that there is something wrong in Athens. Nothing further from the truth. We have THE All American safety in 2023. The number 1 safety recruit for 2023. The number 3 safety recruit for 2022. What's next? Really?
@AndrewHughes "Is it true this occurred because of a clerical era on UGA's part? If so when will they be fired?"
Could you elaborate?
Another title about CD not coming to UGA! How Thirsty were we? I thought we had a stable of All American safeties. Oh, maybe a little guilt for making us fans believe it was all done deal he was coming. Wanting to be the first to put pen to paper or film online. I'm sure recruits visit this site and why would we want to advertise someone rejecting us and especially for Ohio State. I found out this morning from one of the Youtube personalities OSU was his second choice during his recruitment which tells me he played UGA for the bag this go round. Him and his daddy laughing all the way to the bank.
He will be another Justin Fields. What has OSU accomplished since poaching (they started all this NIL madness that's destroying college athletics) Fields by contacting him before the 2018 season began. Meanwhile, UGA is better suited to win it all sooner than is OSU based on past and present performance. Downs will play for a team that will not win it all during his tenure at OSU. I guess it most likely came down to the money, which is what ails college football these days. As if getting a leg up on everyone else by getting a free college education with room and board, along with everything else, wasn't good enough. Kids now run the show, which also led to Saban's retiring. Unless something is corrected (fixed), college football is in a swift death spiral downwards.
Ohio State should be a contender for the playoffs and maybe a Natty in 2024. Their defense will be elite (with Downs they will have the best secondary in the league on paper), and they are returning a good offense (Henderson coming back at RB) - IF they can find a productive QB. Schedule includes @ Oregon, @ Penn State, and at home against Michigan. Otherwise not much competition unless Iowa finds an offense.
BUT, the Dawgs will have Beck, some ace returning lineman on both sides of the ball and a better-than-average secondary. We've just got to get a pass rusher and a LB core that can contain the edge. The Dawgs may have arguably the best overall roster in the league for 2024, and we WILL need it with our brutal schedule.