The versatile safety has enjoyed training camp as he enters his rookie season.
Caleb Downs has lived up to expectations at Dallas Cowboys training camp.
Likewise, the work in Oxnard, Calif., has benefited the No. 11 overall pick as he prepares for his rookie season.
"Yeah, it was a great time, honestly," Downs said to reporters as he reflects on camp.
"I love the energy and everything that's around here. Everything's really focused. They give you everything you need, and I feel like that's such a positive for camp —just making sure that you're locked in and focused.
"I feel like it went well. I learned a lot and got more confident. That's the biggest thing. I'm ready to go compete."
The Cowboys still have two preseason games to go. They'll end their stay on the West Coast when Dallas plays at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
In the preseason-opening win over the Seattle Seahawks, Downs was a starter in the slot as a nickel cornerback for new coordinator Christian Parker. Downs eventually moved to a more roaming safety spot, as well, before getting subbed out.
"Yeah, super excited," said Downs, who did not see the field for long enough to record a tackle. "[It was a] really fun experience, and I'm excited to have more opportunities in the future."
Those opportunities will likely come in State Farm Stadium against the Cardinals, who might be led by former Georgia and Miami quarterback Carson Beck under center.
Downs said he'd "of course" be welcome to receiving more snaps in the Cowboys' second preseason game.
However, you can argue that the rookie defensive back has had his hands full all summer lining up against Dallas' elite receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The Cowboys' joint scrimmage with the Los Angeles Rams' Davante Adams and Puka Nacua presented a similar challenge.
Downs sees it as iron sharpening iron.
"I mean, that's the biggest thing, just learning about yourself, and learning who you're gonna be on the field - what type of energy, what type of technique you need to play with," he said. "I'm learning about what I need to be. … That's where confidence actually comes from, just being in the situations, doing it at the level that you're gonna have to do in the game. ... It's all just, uh, trying to get me to where I need to be my best."
The rookie was a three-time All-American in college after spending time at two of the country's richest blue-bloods. But he's still just that: an NFL rookie.
Even before Cowboys camp, Downs has been known to walk with conviction. Where does this confidence come from?
"Mike Tyson said success breeds confidence and confidence breeds success," he said. "I feel like those two work together, and when you win at things, and you do good at things, it allows you to feel more confident.
"And then when you succeed, it just continues to grow from there."
