COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was named the winner of the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award on Friday.

The trophy is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive back.

Downs is just the third winner of the award in program history. The other two are Antoine Winfield (1998) and Malcolm Jenkins (2008).

Earlier this month, Downs was named the Big Ten’s Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and, for the second year in a row, the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year.

On Sunday, he won the Lott IMPACT Trophy , which is awarded for on-field performance, academic standing, community contributions, leadership and overall character.

Downs was also a finalist for the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards, both of which honor the nation’s top defensive player.

Additionally, D

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