Caleb Downs is a great player, on and off the field.
Widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in college football and a captain for the Buckeyes this season, Downs is a leader for Ohio State, on and off the field. Sunday night was yet another example of that, as Downs was awarded the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Your 2025 @TheLottTrophy Winner, @caleb_downs2 pic.twitter.com/3tKg3we806
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 8, 2025
2, @TheLottTrophy Winner
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 8, 2025
@caleb_downs2 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/VivpTMnUvD
Named after legendary NFL and USC defensive back Ronnie Lott, the award is given to the defensive player who makes the biggest IMPACT – an acronym that stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity – for his team on and off the field. Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter won the award last season.
On the gridiron, Downs has compiled 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and two passes defended through 13 games.
While his dominance as a do-it-all safety on the field speaks for itself, Downs is just as good a person off of it, as Ohio State explained.
Off the field, Downs has partnered with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective to raise funds and fight food insecurity in central and eastern Ohio with a special focus on holiday meals. His work there included working at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank's on-site kitchen preparing meals for local school kids. The partnership came about through the Trust Downs Foundation, which he co-founded with his brother, Josh, who is a wide receiver with the Indianapolis Colts. The foundation helps to combat homelessness in Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Columbus. They have held fundraising events, such as a recent one last July at Topgolf in Columbus, with proceeds benefiting organizations such as the Huckleberry House, which helps homeless youth.
Downs won the award over the likes of Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen, Miami defensive end Rueben Bain and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Current Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis (2008) is Ohio State’s only previous winner of the award.
Downs was also a finalist for the award in 2024. To go along with the Lott IMPACT Trophy, he is a finalist for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Thorpe Award as well.
