No. 1 – Indianapolis Colts | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Suwanee, Georgia, U.S. | August 12, 2001||||||
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 2023 | |||||||
| |||||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Joshua Downs (born August 12, 2001) is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina.
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]
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.
Heading into the 2021 season, Downs was projected to be the team's number one receiver. [3] [4] 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. [5] Two weeks later against Virginia, he caught eight passes for 203 receiving yards and two touchdowns, setting a career high in the process. Downs' 203 receiving yards against the Cavaliers were the eighth most in a single game in Tar Heel history. [6] 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. [7] 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.
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 9 catches for 78 yards and two scores. 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 5 passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns in the Tar Heels' 45–32 loss. 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.
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. [8]
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 |
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: [9] [10] |
Downs was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. [11] 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.
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 |
Career | 17 | 9 | 68 | 771 | 11.3 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Downs' father, Gary, played college football for NC State and is now an assistant coach. His uncle, Dré Bly, also played with the Tar Heels and 11 years in the NFL. His younger brother, Caleb, is a defensive back who played his freshman season at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State.
Reginald Wayne is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and was selected by the Colts in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft with the 30th overall pick. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Wayne was a member of the Colts' Super Bowl XLI. He ranks second in Colts' franchise history to Marvin Harrison in major receiving categories: receptions, receiving yards, targets, and receiving touchdowns. On December 14, 2014, Wayne played in both his 209th game and his 142nd win as a member of the Colts, breaking the franchise records set by Peyton Manning.
Richard Scott Proehl is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Proehl played 17 seasons with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts. He played in four Super Bowls and won two: Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams and Super Bowl XLI with the Colts. He is remembered as a member of "The Greatest Show on Turf".
Jerricho Cotchery is an American college football coach and former wide receiver. He is the head football coach for Limestone Univeristy, a position he has held since 2024. He played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers from 2004 to 2015. He played college football for North Carolina State University.
Ronald Antonio Curry is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the quarterbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Brandon Tate is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina.
Hakeem Amir Nicks is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Nicks has also played for the Indianapolis Colts.
Giovani Govan Bernard is an American former football running back who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, spending 8 seasons with the team. After being released by the Bengals after the 2020 season, he then played 2 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring.
DeAndre Rashaun Hopkins, nicknamed "DHop" and "Nuk", is an American football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowler and has also been named to five All-Pro teams. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals.
Michael Lynn Evans III is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Evans played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors after recording a school record of 1,394 receiving yards on 69 receptions. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Eric Ebron is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Michael William Thomas Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for Ohio State. Thomas holds the record for the most receptions by a player in a single season with 149 in 2019. He led the league in receptions in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, while also leading the league in yardage in the 2019 season. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Mack Hollins is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Quinshad Davis is an American college football coach and former wide receiver. He is the wide receivers coach for Georgia State, a position he has held since 2022. He played college football at North Carolina, where he holds the school record for career touchdown receptions. He has also been a member of the Detroit Lions (NFL).
Anthony Miller is an American football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis.
Arthur Juan Brown Sr. is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Darrell Demont "D. J." Chark Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU.
Justin Jamal Jefferson is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship as a junior before being drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Michael Pittman Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC, where he was named a consensus second-team All-American as a senior, and was selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Gabriel Davis is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Davis has been nicknamed "Big-Game Gabe" due to his performance in important games.
Dyami Brown is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina, where he recorded consecutive 1,000 yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 before being drafted by Washington in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.