Alabama star safety Caleb Downs hasn’t even officially entered the transfer portal yet and one team appears to be the frontrunner to land him.
News broke on Wednesday morning that Downs, the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, intends to enter the transfer portal.
Now, 247Sports’ John Talty and Matt Zenitz are reporting that Georgia is the “clear favorite” to be the former five-star’s next program.
Georgia is the clear favorite to land Alabama star safety Caleb Downs, multiple sources told @mzenitz and I for @247Sports. Downs intends to enter the transfer portal but has not gone in yet.
— John Talty (@JTalty) January 17, 2024
Downs played his high school ball at Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek High School and was heavily pursued by Kirby Smart, only to sign with Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
But now Saban has retired, and multiple Crimson Tide players and recruits are looking at alternative options. Downs would be a major coup for the Bulldogs as they try to regain SEC supremacy following a loss to Alabama in the conference title game this past season.
The 6-foot, 203-pound Downs earned first-team All-SEC honors and led Alabama in tackles with 107, the first freshman to do so since at least 1970.
He also logged a pair of interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a punt return touchdown.