Caleb Downs, of No. 1 safety in the class of 2023 officially announced his commitment to Alabama on Wednesday.
Downs received offers from over 30 programs, including Ohio State, Georgia and Notre Dame.
“It’s hard to explain, but it was a strong gut feeling that told me it was Alabama,” Downs said, via On3. “In my mind, one team kept showing up, and that was Alabama. That’s when I knew.”
Downs shared his announcement via video with The Players’ Tribune.
The high school senior joins five-star Tony Mitchell as a defensive end for Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class. The Crimson Tide has 15 commitments so far, according to On3, and three of them are five-star recruits. Their recruiting class is number 6 in the nation so far.
Downs noted that the program really came out to him after his fifth visit back on June 17. At the time, Downs was thinking more about Ohio State. But, Alabama still won.
“Their message to me from the beginning was how different they were from all the other programs,” said Downs. “Others try to copy what they do, but no one will be able to have the discipline and stability that coach Saban brings to Alabama. It’s an everyday thing and an every year thing under coach Saban. They believe if the players learn that, they can be good and succeed at the highest level.”
The Hoschton, Ga. native will enter his senior year at Mill Creek High School in 2022. As he looks to his future at Alabama, Downs has big dreams for his football career.
“I want to win the Thorpe Award, I want to be a world champion, and I want to be the number one player,” Downs said. “These are the goals for me when I get to Alabama. To win or go home there. It’s about being at the top. Alabama does whatever it takes to be successful. It’s about being on top of the mountain at Alabama, that’s why I’m going there.”
