Overview

Position: S

College: Ohio State

Class: Junior

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 5’11 5/8”

Weight: 206 lbs.

Arm length: 30 1/4″

Hand size: 9 1/2″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Outstanding versatility. Will line up and make plays anywhere on the field. High football intelligence and always seems to react before everyone else. Doesn’t tip his hand before the snap. Ideal size and length. Extremely smooth and fluid movement skills. Great speed and agility. Elite overall anticipation and play recognition in coverage. Natural instincts for passing off receivers in zone coverage and covering his assignment. Excellent feel for reading routes in retreat in roamer/robber coverage. Very instinctive reading and reacting on underneath passes. Great burst to break on throws in front of him. Cover transitions are extremely smooth. Quick and fluid in the backpedal. Jumps all over routes in front of him coming from deep alignment. Reads the quarterbacks eyes and is ready to make a play on the ball in zone coverage. Dangerous reading and reacting as a robber. Very good overall skillset in man coverage. Will defend tight ends in the slot and out wide. Tremendous ball skills. Exceptional balance and control in pursuit. Strong as a tackler. Extremely quick to identify and react to wide receiver screens. Works to defeat blocks and make the tackle in space. Terrific timing and efficiency as a blitzer coming from the second level or the slot. Quick to filter down in run support as a deep safety. Excellent filling versus the run when aligned in the box. Aggressive coming down to tackle in the hole. Sticks his nose in the action around the goal line. Shows physicality taking on blockers when lined up near the line of scrimmage. Quick to disengage. Shows burst into contact as a tackler. Wraps up effectively coming in hot to make tackles. Will chop down ball-carriers aggressively in the open field. Strikes at the midsection of opponents when trying to deliver a big hit. Communicates with teammates before the snap. Can be used as a punt returner and shows natural vision and instincts with the ball in his hands.

 

Weaknesses

Can allow some separation from quicker wideouts when giving a cushion in man coverage. Sometimes seems to guess versus the run based on misdirection and will leave the backside open as a split safety. Could show more all-out pursuit hustle when tracking ball-carriers from the opposite side of the field.

 

NFL comparison

Eric Berry

 

Conclusion

Overall, Downs is a very smart, all-around safety and a pure football player who will make plays anywhere on the field. Based on his instincts and versatility, Downs should be able to fill a variety of roles at a high level for an NFL defense.

 

Big Board ranking: #1 | Positional ranking: #1