[1] After graduating from Shawnee High School, where he was nominated to the first-team All-Ohio team for multiple years, Downard chose to attend Eastern Michigan University.
For his performance in his redshirt freshman year, Downard was named as an honorable mention for the All-American team.
Following Downard's freshman year, he remained a consistent starter, but injuries shortened his college career until he graduated in 2010.
[2] Following his college football career, Downard became a graduate assistant for Toledo[3] and Texas Tech[4] for five months and a year respectively.
[5] After his time with the Cleveland Browns, Downard joined the Bowling Green Falcons in 2016 and became the director of football operations in 2017.