The Football Brainiacs

The Path to Norman

Ethan Downs played high school ball in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He played all over the field on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. A top 200 recruit, Downs’ offer list included LSU, Penn State, Texas, and Texas A&M. However, he became the first defensive commit in the 2021 OU class in the fall of 2019.

I have been offered an opportunity that very few people receive, and it has been my dream ever since I was 7 years old to play football for the University of Oklahoma! Thank you to @LincolnRiley @CoachGrinch @CoachThibbs @CoachBOdom BOOMER! pic.twitter.com/12OJaBzSAs

— Ethan Downs (@ethandowns40) October 10, 2019

Career so Far

TFB has heard nothing but great things about Downs this offseason. James Hale reported how great he has been in the weight room:

“Freshman defensive end Ethan Downs (6’4, 252) is a leader in the weight room as a freshman because his motor is always going, and he goes at the max of what he can do every day with every rep.”

Current Profile

Position: Defensive End

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 257

Year: Freshman

Highlights

This Season

Despite the potential to work at different spots, Downs has continued to work at defensive end for the Sooners. That spot will be headlined by senior Isaiah Thomas, looking to build on his monster junior season. Behind him is a fantastic amount of talent: Reggie Grimes (SO), Downs, Noah Arinze (Rd FR), and Nathan Rawlins-Kobonge (FR) will all be competing for playing time at defensive end. This is the deepest and very likely most complete Oklahoma defensive line in years, making the competition for snaps fierce. It might not be this season, but early reviews have nothing but exciting things to say about the kind of player Downs will be in his time in Norman.