COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football’s Caleb Downs is the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

He’s the first Buckeye since Chase Young in 2019 to earn the honor and the 12th Ohio State player to ever win the award.

Downs, a safety, was also named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year on Wednesday, giving him the honor for a second straight year. Last year, he became only the second Buckeye to win the award, joining Shaun Wade (2020).

Downs is the first player in conference history to win the award in back-to-back seasons.

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