Josh Downs

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Josh Downs

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team = Indianapolis Colts

| number = 1

| position = Wide receiver

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|8|12}}

| birth_place = Suwanee, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lbs = 171

| high_school = North Gwinnett (Suwanee)

| college = North Carolina (2020–2022)

| draftyear = 2023

| draftround = 3

| draftpick = 79

| pastteams =

Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)

| status = Active

| highlights =

2× First-team All-ACC (2021, 2022)

| statweek =

| statseason = 2024

| statlabel1 = Receptions

| statvalue1 = 140

| statlabel2 = Receiving yards

| statvalue2 = 1,574

| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue3 = 7

| pfr = DownJo00

}}

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 for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the Colts in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

Downs was born on August 12, 2001, in Suwanee, Georgia, and attended North Gwinnett High School.{{Cite web |last=Brugler |first=Dane |title=The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide |url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/04/10111751/TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410190932/https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/04/10111751/TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide-1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 10, 2022 |website=The Athletic |pages=249 }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Logan |date=February 13, 2019 |title=Four-star 2020 WR Josh Downs commits to North Carolina |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2019/josh-downs-commits-to-north-carolina |website=USA TODAY High School Sports}}

College career

=Freshman=

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.{{Cite web |title=Orange Bowl - Texas A&M vs North Carolina Box Score, January 2, 2021 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2021-01-02-north-carolina.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}

=Sophomore=

Heading into the 2021 season, Downs was projected to be the team's number one receiver.{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Chapel |date=April 5, 2021 |title=Josh Downs, UNC football's 'best receiver' this spring, is ready for a breakout year |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/04/05/josh-downs-unc-football-wide-receiver/7066123002/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=The Fayetteville Observer}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Adam |date=May 6, 2021 |title=Speedy potential of UNC receiver Josh Downs isn't expected to be slowed by foot surgery |url=https://www.thetimesnews.com/story/sports/college/acc/2021/05/06/unc-football-josh-downs-isnt-expected-slowed-foot-surgery/4965980001/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=Burlington Times News}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Adam |date=September 9, 2021 |title=Stellar season debut casts speedy UNC receiver Josh Downs as emerging star in the making |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/acc/2021/09/09/unc-football-josh-downs-looks-like-rising-star-after-season-debut/5780548001/?gnt-cfr=1 |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=Burlington Times News}} Two weeks later against Virginia, he caught eight passes for 203 receiving yards and two touchdowns, setting a career high in the process.{{Cite web |title=Virginia at North Carolina Box Score, September 18, 2021 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2021-09-18-north-carolina.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} Downs' 203 receiving yards against the Cavaliers were the eighth most in a single game in Tar Heel history.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Gregory |date=September 19, 2021 |title=Josh Downs' Career Night Against Virginia |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/Article/UNC-Football-Josh-Downs-Career-Night-Against-Virginia-171326347/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=247sports.com}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Kimmel |first=Mark |date=November 9, 2021 |title=Inside The Numbers: Wake Forest Game |url=https://goheels.com/news/2021/11/9/football-inside-the-numbers-wake-forest-game.aspx |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=GoHeels.com}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Josh Downs 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/josh-downs-2/gamelog/2021 |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}

=Junior=

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.{{Cite web |title=Florida A&M at North Carolina Box Score, August 27, 2022 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2022-08-27-north-carolina.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Notre Dame at North Carolina Box Score, September 24, 2022 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2022-09-24-north-carolina.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Clemson vs North Carolina Box Score, December 3, 2022 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2022-12-03-clemson.html |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Gregson |first=Robert |date=December 10, 2022 |title=2023 NFL Draft: Josh Downs Declares for Draft |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/2023-nfl-draft-josh-downs-declares-for-draft |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=si.com}}

=College statistics=

{{see also|North Carolina Tar Heels football statistical leaders}}

class="wikitable"
colspan="15" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|North Carolina Tar Heels football}}"\| North Carolina Tar Heels
Year ! {{abbr\|G\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|Rec\|Receptions}} ! Yards ! {{abbr\|Avg\|Average yards per reception}} ! {{abbr\|TDs\|Touchdowns}}
2020 \| 10 \| 7 \| 119 \| 17.0 \| 3
2021 \| 13 \| 101 \| 1,335 \| 13.2 \| 8
2022 \| 11 \| 94 \| 1,029 \| 10.9 \| 11
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/josh-downs-2.html Career] ! 34 ! 202 ! 2,483 ! 12.3 ! 22

class="wikitable"

colspan="15" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|North Carolina Tar Heels football}}"| North Carolina Tar Heels

Year

! {{abbr|G|Games played}}

! {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}}

! Yards

! {{abbr|Avg|Average yards per reception}}

! {{abbr|TDs|Touchdowns}}

2020

| 10

| 7

| 119

| 17.0

| 3

2021

| 13

| 101

| 1,335

| 13.2

| 8

2022

| 11

| 94

| 1,029

| 10.9

| 11

[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/josh-downs-2.html Career]

! 34

! 202

! 2,483

! 12.3

! 22

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 8 3/4

| weight = 171

| dash = 4.48

| ten split = 1.49

| twenty split = 2.53

| shuttle = 4.15

| cone drill = 6.75

| vertical = 38.5

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 11

| arm span = 30 3/8

| hand span = 9 1/4

| note = Sources:{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Josh Downs Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-downs/3200444f-5768-6145-dd60-3fbae406310a |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Josh Downs College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1039997&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

Downs was selected 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.{{Cite web |last=Stankevitz |first=JJ |date=April 28, 2023 |title=Colts select North Carolina WR Josh Downs with No. 79 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft |url=https://www.colts.com/news/draft-josh-downs-wide-receiver-north-carolina-third-round-pick |access-date=July 8, 2023 |website=Colts.com}} In Week 6, against the Jaguars, he scored his first professional touchdown on a two-yard reception from Gardner Minshew.{{Cite web |last=Hickey |first=Kevin |date=2023-10-15 |title=WATCH: Colts' Josh Downs scores first career touchdown |url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2023/10/15/indianapolis-colts-josh-downs-scores-first-career-touchdown-highlight-video-jaguars-nfl-week-6/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Colts Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} In Week 7, against the Browns, he had five receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown in the 39–38 loss.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts - October 22nd, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202310220clt.htm |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Receiving |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2023/receiving.htm |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2023 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/2023.htm |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

In Week 8 of the 2024 season, Downs had four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans.{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans - October 27th, 2024 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202410270htx.htm |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In the 2024 season, Downs had 72 receptions for 803 yards and five touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Josh Downs 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DownJo00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

NFL career statistics

rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Team ! colspan="2"\| Games ! colspan="5"\| Receiving ! colspan="5"\| Rushing ! colspan="2"\| Fumbles
style="text-align:center;" class="wikitable"
style="font-weight:bold;background:#03202F;color:White;"
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 \|14\|\|8\|\|72\|\|803\|\|11.2\|\|69\|\|5\|\|1\|\|12\|\|12.0\|\|13\|\| 0\|\|0\|\| 0
colspan="2" \| Career	31	17	140	1,574	11.2	69	7	1	12	12.0	13	0	0	0

Personal life

Downs' father, Gary, played college football for NC State and is now an assistant coach.{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Jeremiah |date=May 1, 2023 |title=Colts Find 'Human Chain Mover' in NFL Draft With UNC's Josh Downs |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/article/unc-football-josh-downs-nfl-draft-indianapolis-colts-wide-receiver-reggie-wayne-209293689/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=247Sports |language=en}} His uncle, Dré Bly, also played with the Tar Heels and 11 years in the NFL.{{Cite web |last=Grandberry |first=Jaleel |date=2023-06-21 |title=Colts rookie WR Josh Downs explains how he's leaning on his father's NFL experience |url=https://horseshoeheroes.com/posts/colts-rookie-wr-josh-downs-leaning-on-father-gary-downs-nfl-experience-01h3f1n14d66 |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Horseshoe Heroes |language=en-US}} His younger brother, Caleb, is a safety who played his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Raven |date=November 15, 2023 |title=From Marvin Harrison Jr. to Caleb Downs, Colts' family ties in college football run deep |url=https://www.colts.com/news/family-ties-marvin-harrison-jr-arch-manning-caleb-downs-josh-downs |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=www.colts.com |language=en-US}}

References

External links

{{Twitter|JoshDowns_}}

{{footballstats|pfr=D/DownJo00|yahoo=40126|espn=4688813|nfl=josh-downs}}

[https://www.colts.com/team/players-roster/josh-downs/ Indianapolis Colts bio]
[https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/josh-downs/22428 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]

Category:2001 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Suwanee, Georgia

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:North Gwinnett High School alumni

Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players

Category:Indianapolis Colts players