The Dallas Cowboys may have found their next fan favorite in the former Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs. The rookie quickly drew attention from his teammates and veteran players, impressed with his mentality and approach to the game during the OTAS.

The Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is no exception. Downs recently spent time with the Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on the golf course, showcasing his edge in another sport while beating the veteran signal-caller in their round. 

“I could talk about him all day,” Prescott said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I got a chance to spend some time with him, golfed with him outside the facility. He’s wired the right way. I’m super excited for him to be on that defense, to lead that defense.” 

Downs recently went golfing with former Cowboys QB Will Grier and Prescott, and beat Prescott by a couple of strokes

But Downs had a clear mission to beat Prescott, and also to learn from the veterans about the offensive side of the ball. 

"I'm not going to lie: I was out there to beat his a**," Downs said, per Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I told my friend that before I went out there. I was like, ‘I’m fixing to beat him. I don’t care what happens.’ Yeah, it was a good game.” 

In his last year of college football, Downs recorded one sack, 68 tackles (45 solo), two passes defended, and five tackles for loss in 14 games played for Ohio State in 2025.

He earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Jim Thorpe honors in the same year, as he played a key role in the Buckeyes' national championship run. 

Downs has already drawn comparisons to Prescott, with Jerry Jones believing the rookie shares similar leadership qualities and a demeanor to Prescott's.

Caleb Downs Earns High Praise From Jerry Jones

During the post-draft conference, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, said to reporters that Downs reminded him of Prescott for having that natural charisma and leadership.

"He reminds me of Dak," Jones said, per X post of Jon Machota. "He does. He's a pied piper."

Prescott rather took it as a compliment to be compared with Downs, as he was impressed with how he led the rookie draft class with humility and a strict work ethic.

"Just honestly, I can say in just the month, or whatever, I've been around the kid and watching the kid, h***, I think I take it as a compliment when those comparisons come around," Prescott said, per Dallas Morning News.

For a rookie yet to play an NFL snap, earning praise from both Jones and Prescott speaks volumes about the impression Downs has already made within the franchise.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote