Ohio State Buckeyes lost one of the smartest defensive players in college football this spring. ESPN analyst and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit made it clear he thinks that loss is bigger for Ryan Day's program than people realize.

Caleb Downs signed a four-year, $28.9 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys after being selected 11th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Herbstreit was asked about what that means for Ohio State's defense heading into 2026.

"Caleb Downs was essentially a defensive coordinator on the field for the last two years," Herbstreit said on Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show on May 11. "I think that might have been the best pick in the draft that Dallas picked up."

Coming from someone with 30 years of college football experience, that is a strong assessment. Herbstreit’s comments focused on both athleticism and football IQ.

"There are two or three guys that come to mind at his level of intelligence when it comes to just understanding how the game works," Herbstreit added. "You put him in a Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed kind of level of safety play."

Herbstreit compared Downs to Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed, both of whom are Hall of Famers who changed how defenses operated around them.

That is exactly why losing Downs hurts Ohio State so much. Herbstreit explained it plainly.

"When you take him out of that defense with Matt Patricia, who runs an NFL scheme, they're gonna be talented always, but you lose a lot there," he said.

As team captain, he guided a defense that ranked No. 1 nationally in total, scoring, passing, and rushing defense. Downs totaled 82 tackles in 2024, ranking third on the team, and contributed eight passes defensed.

It included two interceptions in the CFP semifinal against the Michigan Wolverines and Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl.

Patricia's scheme is complex and demands a player who can process information and communicate it fast. Downs was that player for two seasons, and finding someone to replace that kind of football intelligence is not easy.

Ohio State still has Julian Sayin at quarterback and Jeremiah Smith returning at receiver. Herbstreit said he expects the Buckeyes to come out swinging on offense in 2026, while the defense finds its feet through the middle of the year.

The Buckeyes came with a plan after Downs' departure to the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys traded up to draft Downs as Ohio State plans to fix the gap

The Cowboys were not willing to risk losing Downs either. Dallas traded their 12th pick, plus two fifth-round selections, to move up one spot and lock him in at eleventh overall.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called it a move they had to make.

"He was a prize for us sitting there," Jones said after the draft. "We had every reason to think that might be happening. Didn't want to lose him."

While the Cowboys landed Downs, in Columbus, he will be replaced by three players, as reported by Scarlet and Game analyst Andrew Hughes.

With Downs gone, his responsibilities will be divided among junior safety Jaylen McClain, Earl Little Jr. (Florida State Seminoles transfer), and Terry Moore (Duke Blue Devils transfer).

Do you think Ohio State can replace what Downs brought to that defense in 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar