Ohio
Is Caleb Downs already the best in Ohio State’s storied history?
COLUMBUS, Ohio — With his NFL Draft declaration, the debate intensifies around Downs’ legacy — was his combination of physical gifts and football IQ enough to surpass Buckeye legends despite playing only two seasons?
With Caleb Downs declaring for the NFL Draft, a fascinating historical debate has erupted among Ohio State faithful: Is he already the greatest safety in program history despite playing just two seasons in Columbus?
The conversation typically centers around three legendary figures: Downs, Jack Tatum, and Mike Doss. Each boasts an impressive resume of accolades, championship hardware, and game-changing performances that transformed the safety position at Ohio State.
“My initial reaction is probably no. But he’s the best. He’s he’s the most talented safety to ever play at Ohio State,” said Andrew Gillis, drawing an important distinction. “Like he’s the best at football, but I think only two years here compared to maybe some of the other guys, I wonder if when you compare the totality of that argument…”
The statistical case for Downs is undeniable. As Stephen Means recounted: “Caleb DS, two-time unanimous all-American, Jim Thorp award winner, lot trophy award, lot trophy winner, national champion, Big 10 defensive player of the year, and he was also a second team all-American as a true freshman. He was also the SEC freshman of the year. and he’s a two-time Big 10 defensive back of the year.”
This remarkable collection of accolades rivals those of his predecessors. Jack Tatum, a cornerstone of the “Super Sophomores” and two-time national champion, was a two-time unanimous All-American and had a trophy named after him. Mike Doss was a national champion, unanimous All-American, and three-time All-Big Ten performer.
What separated Downs from other elite safeties wasn’t just his physical abilities but his extraordinary football intelligence. Gillis explained: “The best thing about it was not just Caleb DS is really good and he’s athletic, but like what makes him special is you’ve got a supercomputer in his helmet on the back end of that defense. And that is not something that you can take lightly.”
This “supercomputer” quality transformed Ohio State’s defense, allowing them to disguise coverages at an elite level and confuse even the most sophisticated offensive minds. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian noted early in the season how Downs’ presence made Ohio State’s defensive disguises particularly challenging to decipher.
Perhaps Downs’ greatest performance came in a losing effort against Miami, where he set a College Football Playoff record with two forced fumbles in a single game. As Means noted: “Caleb DS was at god level against Miami and you don’t get to appreciate it because the offense couldn’t get to in the second half.”
The case against Downs rests primarily on his shorter tenure. While Tatum and Doss enjoyed longer Ohio State careers, allowing them to accumulate more statistical achievements and memorable moments, Downs’ impact was perhaps more concentrated and immediately transformational.
The fact that this debate exists at all speaks to Downs’ extraordinary impact. After transferring from Alabama following Nick Saban’s retirement, Downs immediately established himself as one of the most impactful transfers in program history, comparable to the legendary Joe Burrow.
“Caleb came in day one to Ohio State and led them to N, right?” Stefan Krajisnik observed. “Like even Burrow transferred, but it still took a little time. Like Caleb came in and it was like this is a team that needs to win a national title. Here is a star to put in the middle of it all.”
Whether Downs ultimately ranks first, second, or third in the pantheon of great Ohio State safeties may remain forever debated. What’s undeniable is that in just two seasons, he forced his way into a conversation that usually requires a longer resume. His combination of physical talent, football IQ, and championship pedigree ensures his legacy will endure long after his departure to the NFL.
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Walmart expanding its drone delivery around Tampa Bay
Whether it’s groceries, over-the-counter medications, or meals, drones are becoming the future of delivery.
Fox – 13 News
Residents of one Ohio city will soon be able to look to the skies for their next Walmart package as the company expands its drone delivery service to the Buckeye State.
In partnership with Wing, Walmart announced drone delivery expansion into new markets with an additional 150 Walmart stores, bringing the service to more than 40 million Americans, the chain announced in a Jan. 11 news release.
Here’s what to know about when the service starts in Ohio and how to see if your household is eligible.
Walmart to offer drone delivery service in Cincinnati by 2027
Walmart announced Cincinnati as one of the newest cities slated for drone deliveries, alongside Los Angeles, St. Louis and Miami. While the retail giant has not yet announced when the service officially launches in Cincinnati, Walmart notes that the expansion into new locations should be completed by 2027, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
In 2027, Walmart expects to operate drone deliveries at more than 270 locations, including 150 newly added stores nationwide.
Greg Cathey, Walmart’s Senior Vice President of Digital Fulfillment Transformation, notes that the drone delivery expansion to Cincinnati and other markets will help serve customers who have last-minute needs with added speed and convenience, from groceries to phone chargers.
“By expanding drone delivery to new major metro areas, we are helping more customers solve for their last-minute needs faster than ever before,” Cathey said in the release.
Here’s what it looks like to receive a Walmart drone delivery
How to know if you’re eligible for Walmart drone delivery in Ohio
According to The Enquirer, orders will be fulfilled directly from nearby Walmart stores by drones based at existing Walmart operations.
To see if your home is in our new service area, customers can check their address at Wing.com/getdelivery and sign up for Wing’s waitlist, or download the Wing app on the Google Play store and Apple App Store.
Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. will return for his senior season.
Mathews made an announcement on Instagram on Jan. 15, the day after the deadline for underclassmen to file paperwork to enter this year’s NFL draft had passed.
He started last fall opposite Davison Igbinosun and was a third-team All-Big Ten selection.
Along with being reliable in pass coverage, Mathews was one of the Buckeyes’ most disruptive defenders. He had two interceptions and forced a fumble in a win at Illinois in October while on a blitz.
His return provides needed starting returning experience for Ohio State at cornerback as Igbinosun exhausted his eligibility.
The Buckeyes had bolstered the position with depth through the portal with the commitment of Alabama transfer Cam Calhoun, who made a start at Utah in 2024.
Mathews and Calhoun were once teammates at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.
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It started with a Facebook post.
David Gedert − also known as the drag queen Sugar Vermonte − criticized Republican state Rep. Josh Williams on the page for his Toledo food truck, Maybe Cheese Born With It. Williams, who is running for Congress in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, has sponsored legislation to criminalize certain drag performances.
The Lucas County Libertarian Party responded, “SUGAR FOR CONGRESS!” And a campaign was born.
Gedert announced that he’s running as a libertarian in the 9th District, which includes Toledo and swaths of northwest Ohio. Current Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest serving woman in Congress, faces an uphill battle after lawmakers made the district more Republican in the latest round of redistricting.
Williams, former state Rep. Derek Merrin and Air Force veteran Alea Nadeem will face off in the GOP primary in May.
“The two-party system that pretends to work for us is ridiculous,” Gedert told the statehouse bureau. “We have to stop pretending that it’s working. We all recognize that it’s broken in one way or another, but someone has to stand up.”
Who is David Gedert, a.k.a. Sugar Vermonte?
Gedert grew up in a Detroit suburb, but he moved to Toledo at age 17 after both of his parents died. His resume includes a bit of everything: drag queen, Realtor, McDonald’s corporate manager and paraeducator for children with autism.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Gedert said, he bought a camper and some pink paint and opened Maybe Cheese Born With It. He then landed on the Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race and took second place.
Gedert said he’s always been politically engaged and evolved from a registered Democrat to independent. When the Libertarian Party contacted him about a bid for Congress, he reviewed the platform and said it aligns with much of what he believes.
Gedert also said the people of northwest Ohio deserve a better candidate for Congress, even though he respects Kaptur and her service.
“She came up in politics in an absolutely different world than the one we live in now,” Gedert said. “I think it is absolutely time for a fresh vision and someone who can really speak to the issues we are facing right now.”
Gedert doesn’t think that person is Williams, who reintroduced a bill last year that would restrict drag performances deemed “obscene” to adult-only clubs and bars. As Sugar Vermonte, Gedert has hosted Dolly Parton brunches to raise money for Blood Cancer United and contends Williams’ bill is “ridiculous.”
“Bless his heart,” he said of Williams − with a tinge of sarcasm.
Representatives for Kaptur and Williams did not respond to requests for comment.
This isn’t the first time a libertarian has run in the 9th Congressional District. Business owner Tom Pruss received more than 15,000 votes in the 2024 election that Kaptur narrowly won. The outcome raised questions about whether Pruss siphoned votes from Merrin, who lost to Kaptur by nearly 2,400 votes, according to the Ohio secretary of state’s office.
To Gedert, 2024 showed that 15,000 people in northwest Ohio wanted something different from their elected officials.
“If the two-party system doesn’t like it, too bad buttercup,” Gedert said. “You don’t always get what you like.”
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
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