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The Dallas Cowboys and their fans love themselves some Caleb Downs, and quarterback Dak Prescott is no different.
“How professional he is, how calm he is; quiet yet confident,” Prescott said of what stands out to him about Downs, the Cowboys’ No. 11 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “It’s contagious. You can feel it. He is a man who is sure of who he is.
“When you’re that way in this business, you know you can speak up, speak up. You can say things you believe in and age doesn’t really matter because you know you’re doing the right thing.”
Downs, a consensus five-star recruit, spent his 2023 freshman campaign with the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he racked up an SEC-high 70 solo tackles. After Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired, Downs moved on to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024 and was part of a Buckeyes team that went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
So last year (2025) he was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Downs, a two-time All-American, reeled in two interceptions in each of his three seasons on the collegiate scene.
“He’s a guy who’s a leader, just by the way he carries himself and the way he approaches it,” Prescott said of Downs. “I know he leads that rookie class, but he understands the way the locker room works and what it means to earn the trust and respect of the veterans. He’s a humble kid who comes in there every single day, quiet and grinding.”
Downs was one of two first-round picks for the Cowboys, who moved up one spot to secure Downs at pick No. 11 and traded back three spots, eventually taking UCF Knights defensive end Malachi Lawrence with pick No. 23.
As for Prescott, the four-time Pro Bowler enters his 11th season under center for the Cowboys, who have missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Last year, Prescott totaled 4,552 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 99.5 passer rating while completing 67.3% of his passes.
