Ohio State football closely monitors Caleb Downs’ spring practice reps as a safety.

Ohio State’s football national championship run, a lengthy stretch that saw the Buckeyes navigate the first expanded College Football Playoff, put physical demands on players.

Especially star safety Caleb Downs.

“I had the most snaps on the team last year,” Downs said.

Between his role in the secondary and on punt units, he played just over 1,000 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

The heavy workload has resulted in the Buckeyes scaling back his reps in spring practice. On Monday, coach Ryan Day said that Downs has also been dealing with a nagging injury, though he did not specify the nature of the issue.

When asked about the injury a day later, Downs added, “I’m good for the most part.”

Downs said he has been able to participate in team periods during practices. After Tuesday’s practice, he lingered on the indoor field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to work with a staffer.

“He’s done a good amount of things,” safeties coach Matt Guerrieri said, “so it’s not like he hasn’t done a good amount of stuff. It makes a difference when he’s on the field.”

The presence of Downs, who was a unanimous All-American as a sophomore after transferring from Alabama, is valuable for a defense that has only a handful of returning starters. Eight of the 11 starters on that side of the ball last season were seniors.

An inexperienced defense is also going through a coordinator change. Matt Patricia, a longtime assistant and head coach in the NFL, replaced Jim Knowles in February.

Patricia and his staff have had to balance incorporating Downs into periods with managing any more wear and tear.

“Certain things we want to see out of Caleb,” Guerrieri said. “Certain things we say, ‘Hey, let’s hold Caleb in these situations and put the other guys out.’ ”

Malik Hartford and Jaylen McClain have seen more reps with Downs limited.

Guerrieri said Downs’ reps are scripted ahead of practices.