Lathan Ransom, SAF, Ohio State
Size:
Height: 6002
Weight: 206
Arm: 30 ½”
Hand: 8 ½”
Accomplishments:
Thorpe Award Semifinalist (2022) • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2023, 2022) • Four-star recruit
“Lathan Ransom is a do-it-all safety who brings a hammer downhill in run support and quickly diagnoses plays to get after the ball-carrier.”
Strengths:
Football IQ
Instincts
Versatility
Eyes
Willing run defender
Concerns:
Injury history
Tackling technique
Film Analysis:
Lathan Ransom was a national top-100 prospect and the No. 5-ranked safety nationally when he committed to Ohio State out of Tucson Salpointe Catholic High School. He made the Arizona Republic All-Arizona Team as a junior after 82 tackles, two sacks, six interceptions, and eight pass breakups and went on to play in the U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio before committing to Ohio State.
It became clear that Ransom would be a big part of Ohio State’s defense as he earned playing time as a freshman and started to come on in the last three games of the season. While battling numerous injuries throughout his career, he finished as Ohio State’s leading tackler with 152, adding 12 pass break-ups, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Ransom moves all over for the Buckeye defense from a single-high safety to a force multiplier in the box and against the run. He’s a willing run defender and shows off his advanced play recognition by quickly triggering downhill to become an extra body in the run game, bringing the wood with him. He tackles with ferocity and looks for big hits, but he also takes proper angles and squares up when necessary. His tackling technique can improve by not lunging or dipping his head and falling to the ball-carrier's ankles, leading to more sound tackles. While trigging into space or against screenplays, Ransom plays with good timing and hand usage to disengage from blocks to make tackles in space. His willingness and aggressiveness to tackle any ball-carrier in space will make him a defensive coordinator’s dream.
Ransom often rotates from a two-high station to a single-high station and has the sideline-to-sideline speed to cover wherever the ball takes him. His athleticism is displayed with a smooth, well-timed backpedal and hips gliding while changing direction. Ransom uses his eyes to track plays and adjust based on the quarterback’s intentions while keeping his responsibility at the forefront. When he’s playing zone coverage, he keeps players in front of him and passes off receivers in and out of his zone; however, his ball location in man coverage downfield is still improving. Ransom has the tools to come down and play the ‘big nickel’ role and shows man coverage upside with tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.
There isn’t much Ransom can’t do from the safety position, and his football IQ, tenacity, and effort in all phases of the game will make him a highly sought-after prospect. If he can stay healthy at the next level, he’ll make for a highly impactful force multiplier for most defenses.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Daniel Harms
Exposures: Tennessee (2024), Michigan (2024), Purdue (2024), Penn State (2024)
