caleb downs

Hoschton, Georgia, native Caleb Downs is the third Thorpe Award recipient from the Buckeyes, joining winners Malcolm Jenkins (2008) and Antoine Winfield (1998). Reigning unanimous All-American, Downs has been regarded as a leader on the defense from the moment he arrived at Ohio State in January 2024 and is considered a major contributor to the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship run. 

Anchoring one of the nation’s toughest secondaries, ranking first nationally in total defense, scoring defense and passing yardage, Downs is second among Buckeyes with 40 solo tackles, and his season totals also include five tackles for loss, a quarterback sack, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry, showcasing his range, physicality and reliability on the back end. “I have spent 11 years coaching in the NFL and Caleb Downs is the best football player – pro or college – that I have ever coached,” said Tim Walton, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach. “He is first-class and exceptional in all areas he touches. He is intelligent, thoughtful, honest, trustworthy and dependable. As a player, he is tenacious, always well-prepared, tough, physical, fast and productive. On behalf of the Ohio State football coaching staff and program, I want to thank the Paycom Thorpe Award for honoring Caleb with this award.”

In addition to winning the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Downs, an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, was also named winner of the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy, awarded for on-field performance, academic standing, community contributions, leadership and overall character. He was also named a finalist for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award. An Associated Press All-Big Ten honoree and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Downs was also named the Big Ten’s Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and, for the second consecutive season, the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year. Selected as team captain by his peers, Downs was also nominated as Ohio State’s candidate for the 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, an honor created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who strive to have a positive impact within their community in addition to excellence in competition.

Downs commanded the voting, securing an impressive 67% of the first-place votes nationwide. This outcome was determined by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, comprising the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, past recipients of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, members of the National College Football Awards Association, and prominent sports writers and college football journalists from across the country.

Jahdae Barron attended John B. Connally High School in Austin, Texas, where he starred on the football and track & field teams. He was selected First-Team 5-A 11 All-District as a defensive back his junior season and earned Second-Team 5A All-State his senior year. In addition to defensive back, Barron also played wide receiver and returned kickoffs and punts for Connally. He finished his senior season at Connally as one of the highest rated defensive backs in the country and attended The University of Texas following high school.

Barron appeared in five games for the Texas Longhorns as a freshman. Barron saw more playing time as a sophomore, appearing in nine games and making two starts during the 2021 season. He came into his own as a junior, playing in 13 games and making nine starts. He was named honorable mention All-Big 12 and finished 2022 with 78 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and led Texas with 11.5 tackles for loss. Barron continued his excellence on the field in 2023. He was named a Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist and selected Second-Team All-Big 12. He finished 2023 with 61 tackles (32 solo), one interception and six pass breakups.

Barron became the best defensive back in the country in 2024, winning the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Barron started all 16 games for the Longhorns in 2024. He led the SEC and finished fourth in the country with five interceptions. Barron was named First-Team All-America by the Associated Press and First-Team All-SEC. In addition to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Barron was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and helped lead the Longhorns to a College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance. Barron had three solo tackles and two pass breakups in the opening round victory over Clemson. He was named the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Defensive MVP in the Longhorns’ quarterfinal win against Arizona State as Texas advanced to the CFP Semifinals for a second straight season. Barron finished the 2024 season with 67 tackles, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. 

Trey Taylor came out of Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas and attended the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) where he was a three-year starter as a defensive back. Taylor started 10 games for the Falcons in 2021 and finished second on the team his sophomore season with 62 tackles, 39 solo, as well as one interception and one forced fumble. Taylor led the Falcons with 69 total tackles including a team leading 41 solo tackles as a junior in 2022. He finished his junior season with two interceptions and was named second team All-Mountain West Conference. 

Trey Taylor became one of the most dominate defensive backs in the country as a senior winning the 2023 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. He finished his senior season as a First Team All-Mountain West Conference and Third-Team All-American selection. He complied 71 total tackles, 39 solo, three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, and four pass break ups. In addition to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Taylor also won the 2023 Defender of the Nation Award, given to a college football player from one of the nation’s service academies based on exceptional leadership and performance on and off the field. He is only the second player in USAFA history to win a major college football award, joining Chad Hennings, 1987 Outland Trophy recipient.