The Buckeyes had always prized Caleb Downs. Last season, he hit the ground running at OSU, helped lead them to a national title, and ranked third on the team with 82 tackles. His impact is felt in how he commands the secondary. Big plays define Downs in a major way. Like 11 tackles against Michigan and key pass breakups versus Texas in the playoffs, which prove he’s clutch. And this season? Caleb is building on that dominance with Ohio State’s defense allowing just 16 points over three games. But interestingly, football wasn’t always the main stage for Caleb growing up.

Caleb comes from a pure football family. His father, Gary, starred at NC State, and talent clearly runs in the family. His uncle Dre Bly was an All-American at North Carolina and made it to the NFL, too. Even his older brother, Josh Downs, is keeping the legacy alive as a receiver for the Colts. But even with all this pedigree, Caleb didn’t want to follow his brother through this sport.

When he was six years old, Caleb was sure that football wasn’t his thing. Specifically, he didn’t want to follow his brother into carrying forward the family legacy. But his dad had a different opinion. Gary Downs could say that his younger son had it in him. “I remember saying, ‘He’s a pro football player.’ That’s what he looked like,” Gary told The New York Times. “He just understood what everybody was supposed to be doing all the time.”

When he eventually took up football in youth football, Caleb played on both sides of the ball. Linebacker on defense and running back on offense. Even at eight years old, Caleb Downs was sent the film by his coaches, and he would actually watch it to come up with a game plan. In hindsight, none of it may seem surpising. Not to Bama fans who saw him during his freshman year. Not to the Buckeye faithful. He started every game as a freshman on a Playoff team, led the Tide in tackles, and even took a punt back for a touchdown. And with a performance like that, he earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors.

But can you imagine a player like this not wanting to forge his path through the sport he is so good at? That too because of his brother? Josh has been making waves as an offensive player. He impressed in his rookie NFL season with 53 catches, 745 yards, and four touchdowns. Coaches rave about his quickness and playmaking instinct. Caleb, on the other hand, is the cerebral safety. Plus, his football IQ is absolutely off the charts.

In a recent ESPN video, Caleb breaks down how he took his game to the next level. “I was watching films when I was 8 or 9 years old,” Caleb said to ESPN. “It allowed me to play fast through the years. To be able to anticipate plays that are coming.” He was just four years old when he started drawing plays with little football figures. But let’s be clear about something: there is no amount of bad blood between the brothers. In fact, Caleb and Josh Downs have taken their brotherly bond and turned it into a shared platform with their podcast, “Downs 2 Business.”

It’s a way for them to connect with fans and each other on a deeper level, sharing insights from their football journeys, life lessons, and even a little sibling rivalry. They legit took a siblings’ test together on the podcast. When asked who’s faster, Josh confidently claimed the edge. On cooking skills, Josh took the crown, saying he’s the one who whips up meals. The humor was light, but it revealed the playful rivalries deeply rooted in their relationship. Maybe the childhood banter was all because of the age difference, as Caleb wanted to carve his own path away from Josh’s shadow.

Looking ahead, all eyes will be on Caleb Downs as he edges closer to NFL draft eligibility as a top-5 prospect. Still, scouts, analysts, and fans alike are buzzing about his potential to join his brother, Josh.