The University of Alabama signed a tremendous recruiting class for 2023.
Twenty-seven names turned in signed national letters of intent, including nine 5-star athletes. Nick Saban inked an impressive defensive back class. Three of the nine 5-stars are in the secondary. Alabama brought in the No. 1 safety in the nation, Caleb Downs from Mill Creek High School in Georgia. He led his team to a state championship and said he is coming to ‘chase rings at Alabama.’ Downs possesses the mentality Saban loves in a player and person. He is for hard work, effort, and being team-minded.
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The 6-foot, 190-pounder has a chance to start at safety for Alabama next year, especially with Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams pursuing the NFL Draft after the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Downs excels at tackling, ball skills, communication, and creating turnovers. Saban raved about the five-star on Wednesday, calling him ‘the right kind of person’ for the Alabama program.
“He is a great person,” Saban said about Downs. “He is a really smart football player. Football means a lot to him, and the guy is a great competitor. He loves to compete. His team won a state championship, and he was all into it. He could have gone anywhere he wanted to go, but he wanted to stay with the team he was on the whole time and they won the state championship in Georgia. He’s got leadership qualities that are hard to come by, and the guy has a lot of talent physically to develop into something special.”
Saban said the coaching staff is looking forward to working with Downs.
He has only spoken this strongly about a handful of players, and Minkah Fitzpatrick is the first that comes to mind.
Some have started the comparison of Downs to Fitzpatrick, but we will see how he transitions.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
