Tide's Caleb Downs Named College Football's Freshman Of The Year

TUSCALOOSA, AL — University of Alabama safety Caleb Downs on Wednesday was named the 2023 recipient of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award by the Maxwell Football Club, which presents the honor each year to the nation's top freshman.

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The award is named in honor of former Alabama standout Shaun Alexander, with Downs joining Will Anderson, Jr. as the program's only two winners of the honor.

Downs was one of five finalists, joined by Rueben Bain (Miami (Fla.)), Kevin Concepcion (North Carolina State), Noah Fifita (Arizona) and Dillon Thieneman (Purdue).

The Hoschton, Georgia, native has had a stellar campaign in his first year at The Capstone, with Downs earning second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and The Sporting News, while being named a second-team selection by USA Today.

Indeed, Downs racked up the hardware this year as he was also selected as the SEC Freshman of the Year.

Downs and the Crimson Tide will return to action in the College Football Playoff semifinal, which will be played at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against Michigan.

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