Player Profile
Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 263
Class: Junior
Seasons at OU: 2
Hometown: Weatherford, OK
Previous School: Weatherford HS
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, Downsβ 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.
https://twitter.com/ethandowns40/status/1182112814707679232
Career so Far
Word was extremely high on Downs before his first season even began; he backed that up by playing in all 13 games his freshman year. On a line full of upperclassmen, Downs was an energetic standout throughout the season and a Sooner fan favorite.
In 2022, Downs was a starter in every game of the season. He was known for his motor and how hard he worked throughout the year. Downs was the team-leader in TFL, ranking fourth in the Big 12, and tied for the team lead in sacks. Ethan earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors for the season.
Stats
Years: 2022 | 2021 | Career
Games Played: 13 | 13 | 26
Tackles: 38 | 14 | 52
TFL: 13.5 | 3 | 16.5
Sacks: 4.5 | 0.5 | 5
FF: 0 | 1 | 1
FR: 1 | 0 | 1
PBU: 3 | 0 | 3
Stats via Soonersports.com
Highlights
ETHAN DOWNS. π€ pic.twitter.com/ua1KImhumy
— πΊπππππππ ππ. πΏππ πππππ (@soonergridiron) September 17, 2022
Jordan Kelley blew it up. Ethan Downs scooped it up. pic.twitter.com/v5F7ZdyYm7
— πΊπππππππ ππ. πΏππ πππππ (@soonergridiron) November 27, 2022
This Season
After starting in 2022, Downs is likely to start again in 2023. In the Edge group, Sooners added Rondell Bothroyd and Trace Ford in the transfer portal, along with P.J. Adebawore from high school. Along with returning players Reggie Grimes and R Mason Thomas, this position group should have elevated competition in 2023 after a relatively quiet season last year. Ethan Downs was recently named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, the only Sooner on the list, showing the big expectations put on the junior this year.