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Dallas Cowboys defensive back and first round pick Caleb Downs was so dominant in college that he was bored. Like, literally.
“Yes, I will honestly say, yes, [I got bored with] the ball’s not coming my way,” Downs said when asked if he got “bored” by teams not targeting him in college in an interview with 105.3 The Fan. “Maybe the talent [isn’t] so good that week. You don’t always play high-level talent every week in college, so it’s something you have to get used to. Sometimes those games can get boring, just because you’re playing against a team that doesn’t have that good of an offensive line, your D-Line will pretty much handle all the tackles.
“There wouldn’t really be much to make those plays, then [I] just bored of not being in on the action.”
The two-time All-American safety spent the final two seasons of his collegiate career with the Ohio State Buckeyes (2024-25), prior to one season with the Alabama Crimson Tide (2023). A five-star recruit, Downs transferred to Ohio State after his freshman season in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement from coaching.
Downs collected two interceptions in each of his three collegiate seasons. In Downs’ 2023 freshman campaign, he led the SEC with 70 solo tackles, won the national championship at Ohio State in 2024 and later became the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
“I would say I’m a defensive player. Being able to play close to the line of scrimmage, being able to play at the second level, third level, being able to do a lot of different things. You say a weapon, I would just say a well-rounded player,” Downs said. “If you’re a complete player who can play every facet of your defense and make your defense better, that’s who you want on your team. Not necessarily, ‘Oh, I want someone to be able to set the edge.’ That’s great, but if he doesn’t necessarily make the play, it doesn’t matter.”
“At the end of the day you want playmakers and that’s who I am.”
Dallas traded up a spot to select Downs with the No. 11 pick, sending Nos. 12, 177 and 180 to the Miami Dolphins to complete the trade. Later, the Cowboys traded back three spots with the Philadelphia Eagles, sending the No. 20 pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia for picks No. 23, 114 and 137. At pick No. 23, Dallas selected UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence.
Downs and Lawrence join a Cowboys defense that was last in the NFL in opponent points (30.1 per game) and opponent passing yards (251.5 per game), 30th in total yards (377.0 per game) and 23rd in opponent rushing yards (125.5 per game) last season. They fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, replacing him with former Eagles passing coordinator and defensive end Christian Parker.
Downs certainly won’t be bored at the next level.
