After a quiet statistical start to the season, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs broke out in a big way in the Buckeyes’ 38-7 win over Michigan State last week.

Downs recorded six tackles in the game, his highest output of the season, and was a force in run coverage with three solo tackles near the line of scrimmage to chop down ball carriers. The performance, which Downs called his most “well-put-together” game, was a stark reminder of why Downs quickly became one of the game’s best defensive backs as a true freshman last season and why he was arguably the hottest defensive commodity in the transfer portal following the season.

On Tuesday, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said Downs was “activated” against Michigan State and will continue to be activated in the weeks to come. However, he noted that while Downs may have filled the stat sheet on Saturday, his presence was still being felt in prior games.

“You see what he looks like when he’s activated,” Knowles said. “What you don’t see a lot is when he’s not activated, how many times they just don’t throw the ball deep because he’s in the right place or on top of the routes. They don’t even take those shots.”

Downs said he made the plays that came to him last week and reacted quickly when he was able to trigger and play downhill on certain plays. Prior to Michigan State, Downs said the ball wasn’t coming his way much, and he had to remain patient knowing the opportunities would eventually come.

He appeared amused by Knowles’ activation comments when asked about them on Wednesday, saying his strong performance was simply a matter of Michigan State’s offensive scheme leading to increased opportunities.

“I feel like it was just the team we played against that gave me the opportunity to make plays, and the Lord put me in positions to make plays to glorify him,” Downs said. “I would say the defense he called was a good game, and I made the plays when they came to me.”

While it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect any player to still be settling into their second scheme in as many seasons, Downs doesn’t believe that’s the case. Asked about any transition he’s been trying to make this season, Downs said, “I wouldn’t say it was much because I was in it for the spring and fall. At the end of the day, you have to play fast either way, even if you’re not accustomed to the system.”

Playing fast has never been an issue for Downs, whose elite athleticism at the safety position is surpassed only by a level of preparedness that drew rave reviews from his coaches and teammates in the winter despite being in the program for a short time. Downs credits both for allowing him to be such a high-impact player from the moment he stepped on the field as a true freshman at Alabama last season.

“A lot of it is instincts that are God-given, and I feel like he’s blessed me to play the game at a high level,” Downs said. “But I feel like it’s also preparation and how you see the game. How much film you watch helps you to play faster when the time comes.”

As for whether or not the country can expect Downs to continue to be activated in the coming weeks, a smile flashed across Downs’ face as he searched for the most humble yet direct way to address the question.

“I would say if the Lord allows me to play, I feel like I’ll be able to make the plays,” Downs said.

Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on X @DillonDavis56.