Former Alabama safety Caleb Downs is the top player to enter the transfer portal this offseason and Kirby Smart is doing everything he can to land his commitment, again. The Peach State-native is currently choosing where to continue his career.
He is down to Georgia and Ohio State. His recruitment is essentially the same as it was in high school.
As a five-star prospect in the Class of 2023, Downs was deciding whether to play college football with the Crimson Tide, Bulldogs, or Buckeyes. Nick Saban ultimately got him to Tuscaloosa.
Downs quickly became a one of the best defensive players in the country.
The 6-foot, 203-pounder became the first freshman to lead Alabama in tackles in program history, dating back to at least 1970. He made 107 stops and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
Either Georgia or Ohio State will be getting a superstar.
The latter is reportedly flying from Columbus to meet with Downs on Thursday. The former is not too far from Downs’ hometown, so the Bulldogs will likely be back and forth as many times as allowed.
Will Kirby Smart land Caleb Downs?
As Downs’ recruitment continues, Kirby Smart is being accused of tampering. Two videos of the 48-year-old head coach are leading some fans to connect the dots— whether right or wrong.
Smart can be seen (and heard) speaking to Saban prior to the SEC Championship in the first video. It sounds like he might have known that his former mentor was set to retire.
Either way, regardless of whether Smart knew or not, the second video is drawing speculation.
He ran over to congratulate Downs on the SEC title win after the game. They shared an embrace. Smart also dapped up Travaris Robinson, who left the Alabama staff to join the staff at Georgia.
We don’t know what Smart said to Downs. We will never know. Questions loom.
Was the exchange, essentially, a continuation of Downs’ recruitment? Did Smart get ahead of the transfer portal with knowledge that Saban was going to step down? Was he tampering?
The entire exchange between Downs and Smart was likely nothing more than a friendly exchange between two people who built a legitimate relationship over the previous year. But if Alabama’s star safety does in fact end up at Georgia… it’s worth the conversation!