Ohio State already had two consensus All-Americans in safety Caleb Downs and center Seth McLaughlin. Now, the Buckeyes have another unanimous All-American.

On Wednesday, The Sporting News announced its All-American teams. Downs and offensive lineman Donovan Jackson represent the Scarlet and Gray contingent on the first team, while McLaughlin receives another second-team All-American honor.

This announcement makes Downs a unanimous All-American, as the safety was voted to the first team of all five major publications — the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America and The Sporting News. McLaughlin was named a consensus All-American on Tuesday as a first-team representative on the Walter Camp, AFCA and FWAA lists.

The Big Ten led the way with 16 All-Americans by The Sporting News. The Buckeyes’ three honorees tied with Texas and Iowa for the most.

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With this news, Downs becomes the 39th Ohio State player to be named a unanimous All-American. He is the sixth unanimous All-American under head coach Ryan Day, joining defensive end Chase Young (2019), cornerback Jeff Okudah (2019), offensive lineman Wyatt Davis (2020) and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022 and 2023).

Downs transferred to the Buckeyes from Alabama, although he did so after Nick Saban announced his retirement. Downs has made a major impact on the Scarlet and Gray defense this season and quickly turned into a star in the Ohio State secondary. Downs won the starting job alongside returner Lathan Ransom and finished the regular season with 62 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, half a sack, three passes defended and an interception. Downs was also named the Big Ten Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year earlier this month. 

Jackson missed the first two games of the year due to an injury suffered during fall camp but returned to be the Buckeyes’ starting left guard, where he started in each of the prior two years. Following an injury to Josh Simmons against Oregon in mid-October and his replacement, Zen Michalski, in the next game, Jackson moved from guard to left tackle before the Penn State game and helped to stabilize the Scarlet and Gray offensive line for the remainder of the year.

McLaughlin, who was named the 2024 Rimington Trophy winner as the best center in college football 2024 earlier this week, also transferred to the Buckeyes from Alabama last offseason and quickly won a starting spot in the middle of Ohio State’s offensive line heading into the season. The fifth-year senior was a key piece to the Buckeye offense before suffering a torn Achilles in practice in mid-November. 

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The Buckeyes are in the midst of preparing for a College Football Playoff first-round game against Tennessee this weekend. This game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday night from Ohio Stadium and will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.