Can you envision Malaki Starks and Alabama’s Caleb Downs playing in the same secondary?
Georgia coach Kirby Smart can, and it may just happen for him. Downs, a Mill Creek High School freshman who was named first-team All-American for the Crimson Tide this season, was apparently “preparing to enter the transfer portal” on Wednesday, according to various published stories citing sources.
In the 2023 recruiting cycle, the Bulldogs and Ohio State were the finalists to land Downs. Meanwhile, according to all accounts, Smart and the Bulldogs have maintained positive connections with Downs and his family. Following Alabama’s victory against Georgia in the SEC Championship game on December 2, Smart ran all the way across the field to embrace Downs. Smart commented on Downs before the game.
“He doesn’t resemble a freshman at all. “He looks like a guy who has been playing for three years,” Smart explained. “He’s instinctive. He’s quick. He is fearless. He is exactly who he was in high school. I’ve seen him play perhaps a hundred 7-on-7 games at our stadium and facility when his high school team visited frequently. He’s everything we expected him to be: a punt returner, a football player with instincts, a great tackler, and everything what you look for in a defensive back. Downs accomplished everything for the Crimson Tide this season.
The 6-foot, 203-pound athlete led Alabama in tackles with 107, including two interceptions and four pass breakups. Downs was also a part-time punt returner for the Tide, returning four for touchdowns, one of which was 85 yards long. With three seasons of eligibility remaining, Downs would be paired in a Georgia secondary that already has an All-American safety in Starks. Junior Javon Bullard, who played with Starks last season, has declared for the NFL draft.
The fact that one of Downs’ coaches from last season is currently employed by the Bulldogs is beneficial to their argument. Travaris Robinson, Alabama’s cornerbacks coach last year, agreed Friday to join the Bulldogs as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. Robinson and Smart also hugged at the end of the SEC championship game.
Georgia has already accepted one of Downs’ teammates via the link. Jake Pope, a redshirt freshman from Buford, also left the Bulldogs for the Crimson Tide after high school. Of course, none of this guarantees that Downs will arrive in Athens. He is likely to lead one of the most major NIL transactions in the transfer portal’s history. Not only are Georgia, Ohio State, and nearly every other power-conference school anticipated to make offers for Downs’ services, but he may choose to stay in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama is anxious to right its rapidly sinking ship.
Nick Saban, Alabama’s head coach for 17 years, decided to resign last week, prompting Downs to test the market. The Crimson Tide has subsequently hired Kalen DeBoer, a former Washington coach. However, current NCAA rules give members of a collegiate team a 30-day window to investigate the transfer portal following a coaching change.
