Deadspin | Ohio State S Caleb Downs declares for NFL draft

Deadspin | Ohio State S Caleb Downs declares for NFL draft

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) leaves the field following the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14.

Standout Ohio State safety Caleb Downs officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Wednesday.

The two-time consensus All-American is regarded as a potential top-10 selection in the April 23-25 draft.

The 6-foot, 205-pound junior announced his decision on social media “after a lot of prayer and reflection.”

“Being part of a team that brought a National Championship home is something I will always be proud of,” he posted on Instagram. “Competing for Ohio State these past two years, alongside my teammates, and upholding this tradition has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

Downs, who played his 2023 freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Columbus, helped the Buckeyes compile a 26-4 record. They won the College Football Playoff championship in the 2024 season and advanced to the CFP quarterfinals this season.

He was the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and took home the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy.

Downs’ career totals include 164 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and three forced fumbles in 44 games for the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Ohio #State #Caleb #Downs #declares #NFL #draft

Deadspin | Padres score 5 in ninth to rally past Rockies  Apr 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates in the dugout on a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images   Gavin Sheets’ three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Thursday capped a five-run rally enabling the San Diego Padres to outslug the host Colorado Rockies 10-8 in Denver.  Sheets’ third homer of the year, all against Colorado pitching, scored Xander Bogaerts and pinch runner Bryce Johnson. It slapped a blown save on Victor Vodnik (0-2), who fanned Fernando Tatis Jr. as the potential tying run to end the eighth.  But Vodnik gave up a leadoff walk to Jackson Merrill, followed by a single to Manny Machado. Bogaerts and Miguel Andujar then supplied RBI singles that preceded Sheets’ dramatic blast on his 30th birthday.  Ron Marinaccio (1-0) picked up his first MLB win in two years by pitching two innings in relief. Closer Mason Miller locked down his ninth save with a scoreless ninth, enabling him to tie Cla Meredith for the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings with 33 2/3.  Wasted in the loss for the Rockies was Mickey Moniak’s second two-homer game of the year against San Diego. Moniak went 4-for-5 with three runs to lead a 14-hit attack.  The Padres’ rally took starter Matt Waldron off the hook after he was roughed up for eight hits and six runs in five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Colorado starter Ryan Feltner, who left after two innings with right triceps tightness, allowed two hits and a run with a walk and three strikeouts.   Moniak’s solo blast in the first started the scoring, but Andujar lined a two-run double in the second. The Rockies scored four two-out runs in their half of the inning, sandwiching RBI singles from Edouard Julien and Troy Johnston around TJ Rumfield’s two-run double.  Ramon Laureano’s run-scoring triple in the fourth got San Diego within 5-3, but Tyler Freeman’s squeeze bunt plated a run in Colorado’s half of the inning. Bogaerts belted a solo homer in the fifth, his fourth of the year, for a 6-4 deficit.  Moniak drilled his second homer in the sixth and Johnston tacked on his second RBI single in the seventh. Laureano singled home a run in the eighth to get the Padres within 8-5.  Laureano collected three of the Padres’ 13 hits and Andujar drove in three runs.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Padres #score #ninth #rally #RockiesApr 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates in the dugout on a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Gavin Sheets’ three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Thursday capped a five-run rally enabling the San Diego Padres to outslug the host Colorado Rockies 10-8 in Denver.

Sheets’ third homer of the year, all against Colorado pitching, scored Xander Bogaerts and pinch runner Bryce Johnson. It slapped a blown save on Victor Vodnik (0-2), who fanned Fernando Tatis Jr. as the potential tying run to end the eighth.

But Vodnik gave up a leadoff walk to Jackson Merrill, followed by a single to Manny Machado. Bogaerts and Miguel Andujar then supplied RBI singles that preceded Sheets’ dramatic blast on his 30th birthday.

Ron Marinaccio (1-0) picked up his first MLB win in two years by pitching two innings in relief. Closer Mason Miller locked down his ninth save with a scoreless ninth, enabling him to tie Cla Meredith for the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings with 33 2/3.

Wasted in the loss for the Rockies was Mickey Moniak’s second two-homer game of the year against San Diego. Moniak went 4-for-5 with three runs to lead a 14-hit attack.


The Padres’ rally took starter Matt Waldron off the hook after he was roughed up for eight hits and six runs in five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Colorado starter Ryan Feltner, who left after two innings with right triceps tightness, allowed two hits and a run with a walk and three strikeouts.

Moniak’s solo blast in the first started the scoring, but Andujar lined a two-run double in the second. The Rockies scored four two-out runs in their half of the inning, sandwiching RBI singles from Edouard Julien and Troy Johnston around TJ Rumfield’s two-run double.

Ramon Laureano’s run-scoring triple in the fourth got San Diego within 5-3, but Tyler Freeman’s squeeze bunt plated a run in Colorado’s half of the inning. Bogaerts belted a solo homer in the fifth, his fourth of the year, for a 6-4 deficit.

Moniak drilled his second homer in the sixth and Johnston tacked on his second RBI single in the seventh. Laureano singled home a run in the eighth to get the Padres within 8-5.

Laureano collected three of the Padres’ 13 hits and Andujar drove in three runs.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Padres #score #ninth #rally #Rockies">Deadspin | Padres score 5 in ninth to rally past Rockies  Apr 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates in the dugout on a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images   Gavin Sheets’ three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Thursday capped a five-run rally enabling the San Diego Padres to outslug the host Colorado Rockies 10-8 in Denver.  Sheets’ third homer of the year, all against Colorado pitching, scored Xander Bogaerts and pinch runner Bryce Johnson. It slapped a blown save on Victor Vodnik (0-2), who fanned Fernando Tatis Jr. as the potential tying run to end the eighth.  But Vodnik gave up a leadoff walk to Jackson Merrill, followed by a single to Manny Machado. Bogaerts and Miguel Andujar then supplied RBI singles that preceded Sheets’ dramatic blast on his 30th birthday.  Ron Marinaccio (1-0) picked up his first MLB win in two years by pitching two innings in relief. Closer Mason Miller locked down his ninth save with a scoreless ninth, enabling him to tie Cla Meredith for the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings with 33 2/3.  Wasted in the loss for the Rockies was Mickey Moniak’s second two-homer game of the year against San Diego. Moniak went 4-for-5 with three runs to lead a 14-hit attack.  The Padres’ rally took starter Matt Waldron off the hook after he was roughed up for eight hits and six runs in five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Colorado starter Ryan Feltner, who left after two innings with right triceps tightness, allowed two hits and a run with a walk and three strikeouts.   Moniak’s solo blast in the first started the scoring, but Andujar lined a two-run double in the second. The Rockies scored four two-out runs in their half of the inning, sandwiching RBI singles from Edouard Julien and Troy Johnston around TJ Rumfield’s two-run double.  Ramon Laureano’s run-scoring triple in the fourth got San Diego within 5-3, but Tyler Freeman’s squeeze bunt plated a run in Colorado’s half of the inning. Bogaerts belted a solo homer in the fifth, his fourth of the year, for a 6-4 deficit.  Moniak drilled his second homer in the sixth and Johnston tacked on his second RBI single in the seventh. Laureano singled home a run in the eighth to get the Padres within 8-5.  Laureano collected three of the Padres’ 13 hits and Andujar drove in three runs.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Padres #score #ninth #rally #Rockies

Deadspin | Andrew Benintendi hits tiebreaking 3-run HR as White Sox down Diamondbacks  Apr 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) hits against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images   Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer with one out in the ninth to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon.  Chase Meidroth walked off Paul Sewald (0-3) to open the ninth and took second on a sacrifice bunt before pinch-hitter Edgar Quero walked, bringing up Benintendi. His 410-foot homer landed near the pool area in right-center.  The White Sox had eight homers while winning two of three in the series and have 15 homers in the last five games.   White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami was 1 for 5 with a single, ending his five-game home run streak. He struck out three times, the last on a 99 mph fastball from Juan Morillo to end the seventh.  Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 18 games, a franchise record. It is the longest active streak in the majors and the second-longest such streak since 2012, after Pablo Sandoval’s 20-gamer in 2012.   Vargas has a 21-game hitting streak dating to 2025.  Colson Montgomery had three hits and Meidorth had two hits for the White Sox, who had 10 hits, nine singles until Benintendi’s homer. They have won four of six.  Seranthony Dominguez struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.    Ketel Marte had two of Arizona’s eight hits. Geraldo Perdomo extended his hitting streak to seven games.  The Diamondbacks lost their first series since being swept at the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season.  Grant Taylor (1-0) gave up two hits and struck out three after relieving Davis Martin with one out in the seventh. Taylor struck out pinch-hitter Jose Fernandez on a 100 mph fastball with runners on second and third to end the seventh.  Martin gave up one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, his fourth straight quality start. He struck out a season high seven and walked one.  Arizona starter Michael Soroka gave up one run on seven hits, all singles, in five innings. He had six strikeouts and walked one.  Marte singled and scored on Adrian Del Castillo’s double for a 1-0 lead in the first.  The White Sox tied it at 1-1 in the third on Miguel Vargas’ one-out single.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Andrew #Benintendi #hits #tiebreaking #3run #White #Sox #DiamondbacksApr 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) hits against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer with one out in the ninth to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon.

Chase Meidroth walked off Paul Sewald (0-3) to open the ninth and took second on a sacrifice bunt before pinch-hitter Edgar Quero walked, bringing up Benintendi. His 410-foot homer landed near the pool area in right-center.

The White Sox had eight homers while winning two of three in the series and have 15 homers in the last five games.

White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami was 1 for 5 with a single, ending his five-game home run streak. He struck out three times, the last on a 99 mph fastball from Juan Morillo to end the seventh.

Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 18 games, a franchise record. It is the longest active streak in the majors and the second-longest such streak since 2012, after Pablo Sandoval’s 20-gamer in 2012.

Vargas has a 21-game hitting streak dating to 2025.

Colson Montgomery had three hits and Meidorth had two hits for the White Sox, who had 10 hits, nine singles until Benintendi’s homer. They have won four of six.


Seranthony Dominguez struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.

Ketel Marte had two of Arizona’s eight hits. Geraldo Perdomo extended his hitting streak to seven games.

The Diamondbacks lost their first series since being swept at the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season.

Grant Taylor (1-0) gave up two hits and struck out three after relieving Davis Martin with one out in the seventh. Taylor struck out pinch-hitter Jose Fernandez on a 100 mph fastball with runners on second and third to end the seventh.

Martin gave up one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, his fourth straight quality start. He struck out a season high seven and walked one.

Arizona starter Michael Soroka gave up one run on seven hits, all singles, in five innings. He had six strikeouts and walked one.

Marte singled and scored on Adrian Del Castillo’s double for a 1-0 lead in the first.

The White Sox tied it at 1-1 in the third on Miguel Vargas’ one-out single.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Andrew #Benintendi #hits #tiebreaking #3run #White #Sox #Diamondbacks">Deadspin | Andrew Benintendi hits tiebreaking 3-run HR as White Sox down Diamondbacks  Apr 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) hits against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images   Andrew Benintendi hit a three-run homer with one out in the ninth to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon.  Chase Meidroth walked off Paul Sewald (0-3) to open the ninth and took second on a sacrifice bunt before pinch-hitter Edgar Quero walked, bringing up Benintendi. His 410-foot homer landed near the pool area in right-center.  The White Sox had eight homers while winning two of three in the series and have 15 homers in the last five games.   White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami was 1 for 5 with a single, ending his five-game home run streak. He struck out three times, the last on a 99 mph fastball from Juan Morillo to end the seventh.  Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 18 games, a franchise record. It is the longest active streak in the majors and the second-longest such streak since 2012, after Pablo Sandoval’s 20-gamer in 2012.   Vargas has a 21-game hitting streak dating to 2025.  Colson Montgomery had three hits and Meidorth had two hits for the White Sox, who had 10 hits, nine singles until Benintendi’s homer. They have won four of six.  Seranthony Dominguez struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.    Ketel Marte had two of Arizona’s eight hits. Geraldo Perdomo extended his hitting streak to seven games.  The Diamondbacks lost their first series since being swept at the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season.  Grant Taylor (1-0) gave up two hits and struck out three after relieving Davis Martin with one out in the seventh. Taylor struck out pinch-hitter Jose Fernandez on a 100 mph fastball with runners on second and third to end the seventh.  Martin gave up one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, his fourth straight quality start. He struck out a season high seven and walked one.  Arizona starter Michael Soroka gave up one run on seven hits, all singles, in five innings. He had six strikeouts and walked one.  Marte singled and scored on Adrian Del Castillo’s double for a 1-0 lead in the first.  The White Sox tied it at 1-1 in the third on Miguel Vargas’ one-out single.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Andrew #Benintendi #hits #tiebreaking #3run #White #Sox #Diamondbacks

Post Comment