Ohio State '20 AZ S (SR) - Latham Ransom ('22 Honorable Mention All-BIG)

Lathan Ransom reflects on coaching change, role in Buckeyes defense https://t.co/CYzxi5zSZu

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) December 24, 2019

 

Elite safety Lathan Ransom signed with #OhioState, but things got interesting when Jeff Hafley left for Boston College.#NotreDame made a push, but Ryan Day was the difference-maker.

Here’s how everything played out down the stretch: https://t.co/jzaa7kXN4g (VIP)@247Sports pic.twitter.com/Q9Q6AeC3c4

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 31, 2019

 

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Scott and Smith-Njigba have been roommates this week and will be roommates at Ohio State. More than anything, this week has been about building a bond between the two – one that was already strong before they converged on San Antonio. Their bonding is just one example of the many future Buckeyes whose relationships are strengthening this week before they hit campus as early enrollees.

Most, if not all, of the new early signees will be moving in on Sunday together, which is kind of a whirlwind experience going from their old home to Texas and immediately to Ohio.

“It’s hit me multiple times. It hasn’t hit me multiples times in a negative way. It’s just hit me that it’s a crazy reality,” said the Washington native Scott about the move. “I think about that all the time. Just coming out to this All-American Bowl, I’ve been thinking about it. Not only did I pack all my stuff for a five-day trip. I packed to move away, so it’s kinda crazy I’m not going back home. But I’ll be OK.”

 

RANSOM STRUGGLES
Four-star safety Lathan Ransom is going to have an opportunity to make an immediate impact for Ohio State, but there's going to be a learning curve. He knows that, and Saturday showed it.

In the first half, Ransom twice was forced to shift over from his safety spot to cover a slot receiver, and he got beat both times. He also was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (leaping) on a field goal attempt that extended a drive (that drive still ended up resulting in a field goal for the East.)

The first play went for 42 yards, and the second was a 39-yard touchdown. Plays like that are one of the things Ransom knows he will have to get better at if he is going to match his potential.

"My intelligence and being able to be on the field and be a leader, to get on the field and see what the defense is doing. I'm trying to get there and, before all the physical parts come in, I need to know the game better than everyone," Ransom told Eleven Warriors on Friday. "That's really one of my challenges coming in is to learn all the different positions, all the different plays and checks and stuff like that. And I need to just come down on the field and be a physical presence as a safety. Come down, make tackles and have people be scared to throw across the middle."

 

Ohio State freshman DB Lathan Ransom is ready to report to campus and begin workouts and classes on Monday https://t.co/pATz0mBeiW pic.twitter.com/4QCm1nNpxv

— Steve Helwagen (@SteveHelwagen) June 6, 2020

 

The 11 freshmen who weren't early enrollees and transfer running back Trey Sermon are all going through their first week of workouts at Ohio State this week. https://t.co/YXO2aJnaWd

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 9, 2020

LATHAN RANSOM, S
Ransom could potentially be the strongest candidate to push for early playing time among all the freshmen who just arrived, as he plays an important position where there is still some uncertainty going into the fall. While Josh Proctor is expected to lead the depth chart at the deep safety spot and Marcus Hooker is a strong candidate for playing time there as well, Ransom is talented enough to climb the depth chart quickly if he makes a good first impression this summer.

It’s more likely that Ransom will contribute on special teams than play regularly on defense as a freshman, but he is a frontrunner to be Ohio State’s deep safety of the future if his skill set develops as expected over his first two years on campus. A four-star recruit who hits hard and shows good range on film, Ransom has already drawn high praise from Ryan Day, who said in December that Ransom “is going to be as good a safety as we've had here in a long time.”


Lathan Ransom

 

LATHAN RANSOM, S
As Ransom starts his Ohio State career with the potential to be the Buckeyes’ deep safety of the future, a good start would be to begin his career the same way Jordan Fuller and Josh Proctor did: becoming a regular on special teams as a freshman. If he can show he belongs on the kickoff coverage team or another special teams unit, he likely won’t redshirt and will put himself on a trajectory toward having a chance to play a leading role in the secondary in the future.

We take a look at which Ohio State freshmen are most likely to redshirt and least likely to redshirt, and the factors that could go into redshirt decisions for all 25 newcomers. https://t.co/GmxPCpX2V8 pic.twitter.com/K153J3Sykg

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 12, 2020

 

Everything I got, it was made for me. pic.twitter.com/XT8owdxxtv

— LR12 (@L8thanRansom) August 18, 2020

 

🚨 Black Stripe Alert ‼️@L8thanRansom loses the stripe & #BIA gains a playmaker!#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/dsQLluRVXx

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 3, 2020

 

Lathan Ransom becomes the second safety and third defensive player in Ohio State's freshman class to shed his black stripe. https://t.co/czk94d1VTK

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 3, 2020

 

Kerry Coombs on freshman defensive back Lathan Ransom: “Lathan is a run-and-hit guy, and run-and-hit guys always end up playing football ... I suspect that his role will continue to increase as the season goes on.”

 

Lathan Ransom wants to know if you’ve got barbecue back there. pic.twitter.com/yif3o2MxIV

— Arrogant Urban Meyer (@ArrogantUrban) December 20, 2020

 

Lathan Ransom emerging right on time for Buckeyes secondary https://t.co/BPmnjVSZBH pic.twitter.com/WkBsxsumpc

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) December 23, 2020

 

Salpointe’s Lathan Ransom makes the play!!! pic.twitter.com/FXoNgF1tBo

— ArizonaVarsity.com 🔥PREPS🔥 (@AZHSFB) January 2, 2021