“It’s Going to Be a Battle”: Caleb Downs Reveals the Two Ohio State Breakout Stars Pushing Him Harder Than Anyone Expected—and Why Buckeye Fans Should Be Fired Up for 2025

Caleb Downs has seen it all. As one of the most decorated safeties in college football, he’s faced the nation’s top offenses, made open-field tackles look routine, and quickly become a cornerstone of the Ohio State defense. But even a player of his caliber can sense when something different is brewing inside a locker room—when younger, hungry talent begins to rise and push veterans to sharpen their edge. That’s exactly what’s happening in Columbus right now. Downs, already regarded as one of the leaders of the Buckeyes’ defense entering the 2025 season, is openly acknowledging what many within the Woody Hayes Athletic Center have been whispering: two potential breakout stars are coming, and they aren’t just emerging quietly—they’re coming for everything.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Downs said with a grin, the kind that tells you competition is alive and well inside the scarlet and gray. That word—battle—is no exaggeration. These aren’t just flashes in spring practice or surprise names from offseason hype articles. These are players who are already changing the dynamic of Ohio State’s depth chart, who are making noise in team workouts, and who are demanding attention not just from fans, but from a future first-round pick like Downs himself. When a player of his status speaks about others with this kind of respect, it means something. It means they’re real. It means they’re ready. And it means the Buckeyes could be even more dangerous this fall than many expected.

Downs didn’t drop the names casually. He didn’t have to. He could’ve kept things vague, praised the overall team development, or dodged specifics. But instead, he leaned in. Because what’s happening at Ohio State right now isn’t just about one position group—it’s about an entire culture being forged through relentless internal competition. And at the center of that culture are these two young Buckeyes who are refusing to wait their turn.

The first name he mentioned—no surprise to insiders—is already gaining traction among coaches. This player has the size, the speed, and the swagger that screams future star. His energy in the film room, his burst in drills, and his knack for anticipating routes have already set him apart. Coaches have taken notice. Veterans have taken notice. And now, Downs is saying what everyone’s been seeing: this guy might not just play a role—he might steal the show.

The second name Downs brought up might be even more exciting. Less hyped coming into the program, but developing at a rate that has stunned even the strength and conditioning staff. He’s the type who stays late after practice. Who watches extra film. Who has started calling out coverages pre-snap like a seasoned vet. The kind of player who doesn’t just want reps—he wants the toughest ones. Against the best receivers. In the hardest situations. That’s what has grabbed Downs’ attention. Because when the lights are brightest, this guy doesn’t shrink. He gets sharper.

And what’s most striking about Downs’ comments isn’t just who he mentioned—but how he spoke about them. This isn’t empty praise. It’s respect born from competition. From being tested every day. From looking across the line of scrimmage or down the sideline and seeing teammates who raise the standard. For Ohio State, that’s everything. Because the path back to the national title isn’t just about five-star recruits or new coordinators. It’s about internal pressure. Iron sharpening iron. Players making other players uncomfortable in the best way possible.

That’s the culture Ryan Day and his staff have tried to cultivate—and Downs just gave the clearest sign yet that it’s working. These breakout candidates aren’t waiting for injuries or garbage time. They’re fighting for real snaps, real roles, real moments that will shape the outcome of massive games this fall. And that kind of hunger, multiplied across the roster, is what turns a talented team into a championship one.

For fans, this should be music to their ears. Because what Downs described isn’t just healthy competition—it’s the lifeblood of a dominant defense. When veterans are being pushed by rising stars, complacency disappears. Accountability takes over. And that’s exactly what Ohio State needs heading into a brutal Big Ten gauntlet that now includes powerhouses like Oregon and USC. There’s no room for soft spots. No margin for “developing talent” when the schedule demands excellence in Week One.

And the best part? These aren’t just physical freaks. According to Downs, both players are students of the game. They ask the right questions. They process adjustments quickly. They already understand the nuances of Jim Knowles’ system. That mental edge, combined with their athleticism, could make them absolute game-changers as soon as this season.

It also speaks volumes about Downs’ leadership. He’s not threatened. He’s motivated. He’s welcoming the competition because he knows what it means for the team—and for himself. He wants to be pushed. He wants to be better. And he knows these guys are helping make that happen. That mindset, coming from one of the best defenders in college football, is exactly what separates Ohio State from the rest of the pack. It’s why the Buckeyes don’t just reload—they evolve.

So what happens next? Training camp will tell us more. Depth charts will start to take shape. Scrimmages will reveal who can carry their spring momentum into full-contact situations. But one thing is already clear: the gap between the veterans and the new blood is narrowing. And by the time the Buckeyes take the field for the 2025 season opener, there’s a real chance that one—or both—of the players Downs spotlighted will be running out of the tunnel not just as contributors, but as difference-makers.

That’s what should excite Buckeye Nation the most. This isn’t about one star carrying the load. It’s about a defense filled with dudes who believe they should be on the field—and are backing it up every single day. The edge, the fire, the urgency—it’s all there. And when Caleb Downs says, “It’s going to be a battle,” he doesn’t mean it as a warning. He means it as a promise. A promise that Ohio State’s defense in 2025 won’t just be talented—it will be relentless. Uncompromising. And deeper than it’s been in years.

So keep your eyes on the names emerging from Columbus. Because while the nation fixates on quarterbacks and headline transfers, something more dangerous is building inside the Ohio State defense. And Caleb Downs, the player every offense already fears, just told us exactly where to look.