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Josh Downs

Joshua Downs (born August 12, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina.

Josh Downs
No. 1 – Indianapolis Colts
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2001-08-12) August 12, 2001 (age 23)
Suwanee, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:171 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High school:North Gwinnett (Suwanee)
College:North Carolina (2020–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 3 / pick: 79
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2024
Receptions:96
Receiving yards:1,013
Receiving touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Downs was born on August 12, 2001, in Suwanee, Georgia, and attended North Gwinnett High School.[1] During his high school career he had 187 receptions for 3,019 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was selected to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl. He committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to play college football.[2]

College career

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Freshman

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As a true freshman at North Carolina in 2020, Downs appeared in 10 games. Playing primarily on special teams, he had seven receptions for 119 yards and three touchdowns. The first touchdown reception of his college career came against N.C. State in Carolina's 48–21 victory. His breakout performance came in the Orange Bowl, where he filled in for Dyami Brown, who, along with Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, and Chazz Surratt, had opted out of the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Downs caught four passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75 yard touchdown on a broken play that gave the Tar Heels a 27–20 lead early in the fourth quarter. He was the team's leading receiver in the 41–27 loss to Texas A&M.[3]

Sophomore

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Heading into the 2021 season, Downs was projected to be the team's number one receiver.[4][5] In the season-opening loss against Virginia Tech, Downs caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown as the Tar Heels failed to mount a successful second half comeback.[6] Two weeks later against Virginia, he caught eight passes for 203 receiving yards and two touchdowns, setting a career high in the process.[7] Downs' 203 receiving yards against the Cavaliers were the eighth most in a single game in Tar Heel history.[8] Against Wake Forest, he only caught four passes for 35 yards, both season lows. However, his 35 receiving yards against the Demon Deacons made him just the seventh player in school history to gain 1,000 or more receiving yards in a single season.[9] With eight receptions against Wofford, Downs moved into second place behind Ryan Switzer for most receptions in a single season as a Tar Heel with 90.

In the regular season finale, a 34–30 loss against NC State, Downs broke both Switzer's single season receptions record and Hakeem Nicks' single season receiving yards record. He recorded three more catches in the Duke's Mayo Bowl loss to South Carolina, finishing his record-breaking 2021 season with 101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns.[10]

Junior

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Solidified as the Tar Heels' top receiver after his record-setting sophomore season, Downs was once again a featured piece in the Tar Heel offense. He was named to the preseason All-ACC team at the wide receiver and specialist (punt returner) positions, and was selected to the preseason AP All-American second-team at the wide receiver position.

In the season opener against FAMU, Downs recorded nine catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.[11] On his final catch of the game, Downs was injured and missed the next two games against Appalachian State and Georgia State. He returned against Notre Dame, and caught five passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns in the Tar Heels' 45–32 loss.[12] Against Miami, Downs caught another touchdown pass, moving him into a tie for tenth place all time in Carolina history with 16 receiving touchdowns. He continued to post solid statistics the rest of the regular season, recording four games with 11-plus receptions, and recording another 1,000 yard receiving season. Against Wake Forest, he caught three touchdown passes, moving him to second all-time behind Quinshad Davis for UNC career touchdown receptions with 22. In what was his final game as a Tar Heel, the 2022 ACC Championship Game against Clemson, Downs caught 11 passes for 100 yards in the 39–10 loss to the Tigers.[13]

Downs finished his Carolina career with 2,483 receiving yards (the fourth most in school history), 202 career receptions (third most at UNC), and multiple school records at the wide receiver position. He declared for the NFL draft following conference championship week, opting out of the Holiday Bowl in the process.[14]

College statistics

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See also: North Carolina Tar Heels football statistical leaders
North Carolina Tar Heels
Year G Rec Yards Avg TDs
2020 10 7 119 17.0 3
2021 13 101 1,335 13.2 8
2022 11 94 1,029 10.9 11
Career 34 202 2,483 12.3 22

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 8+3⁄4 in
(1.75 m) 		171 lb
(78 kg) 		30+3⁄8 in
(0.77 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.48 s 1.49 s 2.53 s 4.15 s 6.75 s 38.5 in
(0.98 m)		 10 ft 11 in
(3.33 m)
Sources:[15][16]

Downs was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. The Colts previously obtained the 79th overall pick in a trade that sent Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.[17] In Week 6, against the Jaguars, he scored his first professional touchdown on a two-yard reception from Gardner Minshew.[18] In Week 7, against the Browns, he had five receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown in the 39–38 loss.[19] He finished his rookie season second on the team in receiving and seventh among all rookies with 68 catches for 771 yards and two touchdowns.[20][21]

NFL career statistics

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Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 IND 17 9 68 771 11.3 59 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2024 IND 10 6 53 594 11.2 69 4 1 12 12.0 13 0 0 0
Career 27 15 121 1,365 11.3 59 6 1 12 12.0 13 0 0 0

Personal life

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Downs' father, Gary, played college football for NC State and is now an assistant coach.[22] His uncle, Dré Bly, also played with the Tar Heels and 11 years in the NFL.[23] His younger brother, Caleb, is a safety who played his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 249. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Newman, Logan (February 13, 2019). "Four-star 2020 WR Josh Downs commits to North Carolina". USA TODAY High School Sports.
  3. ^ "Orange Bowl - Texas A&M vs North Carolina Box Score, January 2, 2021". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Fowler, Chapel (April 5, 2021). "Josh Downs, UNC football's 'best receiver' this spring, is ready for a breakout year". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Smith, Adam (May 6, 2021). "Speedy potential of UNC receiver Josh Downs isn't expected to be slowed by foot surgery". Burlington Times News. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Smith, Adam (September 9, 2021). "Stellar season debut casts speedy UNC receiver Josh Downs as emerging star in the making". Burlington Times News. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Virginia at North Carolina Box Score, September 18, 2021". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Hall, Gregory (September 19, 2021). "Josh Downs' Career Night Against Virginia". 247sports.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Kimmel, Mark (November 9, 2021). "Inside The Numbers: Wake Forest Game". GoHeels.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Josh Downs 2021 Game Log". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "Florida A&M at North Carolina Box Score, August 27, 2022". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  12. ^ "Notre Dame at North Carolina Box Score, September 24, 2022". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "Clemson vs North Carolina Box Score, December 3, 2022". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  14. ^ Gregson, Robert (December 10, 2022). "2023 NFL Draft: Josh Downs Declares for Draft". si.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  15. ^ "Josh Downs Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Josh Downs College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  17. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (April 28, 2023). "Colts select North Carolina WR Josh Downs with No. 79 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft". Colts.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Hickey, Kevin (October 15, 2023). "WATCH: Colts' Josh Downs scores first career touchdown". Colts Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts - October 22nd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "2023 NFL Receiving". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  21. ^ "2023 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  22. ^ Holloway, Jeremiah (May 1, 2023). "Colts Find 'Human Chain Mover' in NFL Draft With UNC's Josh Downs". 247Sports. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Grandberry, Jaleel (June 21, 2023). "Colts rookie WR Josh Downs explains how he's leaning on his father's NFL experience". Horseshoe Heroes. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  24. ^ Moore, Raven (November 15, 2023). "From Marvin Harrison Jr. to Caleb Downs, Colts' family ties in college football run deep". www.colts.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
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