Lathan Ransom S Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Lathan Ransom S Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.53 seconds (63%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.9 DOB: 07/16/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.53 seconds (63%*) | |
| Age: 22.9 DOB: 07/16/2002 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 83.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 74.5 | |
| Tackling: |
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77% |
| Run Defense: |
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97% |
| Coverage: |
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81% |
| Zone: |
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76% |
| Man/Press: |
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77% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#102
Position rank:
#16
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| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 2223 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#162
Pos Rank:
#6
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 94/100
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| Ovr Rank: #151 Pos Rank: #11 | ||
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brad Hawkins - Michigan |
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85% |
| Kitan Oladapo - Oregon State |
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82% |
| Bryan Cook - Cincinnati |
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81% |
Drafted: ROUND: 4 - Pick Number: 122 (CAR)
Draft Profile: Bio
Lathan Ransom emerged as one of the nation's premier safeties during his five-year career at Ohio State. The 6'1", 210-pound defensive back arrived in Columbus as a prized four-star recruit who turned down offers from football powerhouses including Alabama, Oklahoma, and Georgia. His journey at Ohio State wasn't without setbacks – a broken leg in the 2021 Rose Bowl and a Lisfranc injury that cost him five games in 2023 – but Ransom's perseverance paid dividends in his final season when he helped lead the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff National Championship while earning First Team All-Big Ten honors.Ransom's development from special teams contributor to defensive cornerstone was methodical, with his physical style of play becoming his calling card. The Salpointe Catholic product racked up 152 career tackles – more than any other player on the 2024 Buckeyes roster – including 97 solo stops, showing his ability to close on ball carriers with authority. That physicality extended to his opportunistic play, forcing three fumbles and recording 14 passes defensed during his college career. His improvement trajectory steadily climbed, with tackle totals of 38 in 2021 and 74 in 2022 before injuries limited his 2023 campaign.
After returning for a fifth year, Ransom saved his best for last in 2024, recording 76 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, and helping anchor a championship defense. The versatile safety logged snaps at multiple positions throughout his career – 632 in the nickel, 711 in the box, and 1,005 as a high safety – demonstrating a diverse skill set that NFL teams covet. Despite modest interception totals (just one in each of his final three seasons), Ransom's punishing style and championship pedigree have positioned him as an intriguing prospect for teams seeking a physical presence in their secondary.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Downhill hammer in run support who shows rare instincts attacking from depth – consistently beats blockers to spots and delivers jarring hits that alter offensive game plans.
- Born to play near the line of scrimmage with a sixth sense for diagnosing run schemes – filters through trash with surprising efficiency and rarely takes false steps.
- Stack and shed technique against lead blockers looks like a linebacker's – uses strong hands to control tight ends at point of attack then disengages to make plays.
- Creates turnover opportunities by violently attacking the football – three forced fumbles in 2024 weren't accidents but deliberate attempts to punch through ball security.
- Versatility shows up in his snap distribution across all defensive levels – slides seamlessly between deep safety, box defender, and nickel roles without communication breakdowns.
- Special teams warrior with game-changing block potential – two punt blocks in 2022 highlight his knack for finding creases and explosive closing burst when untouched.
- Shows impressive timing and disguise ability as a blitzer – delayed pressure packages allow him to navigate through traffic without tipping his intentions pre-snap.
- Championship pedigree with five years of development in an elite program – battle-tested in the biggest moments and contributed to national championship defense as a leader.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Heavy feet in transitional movements limit man coverage ceiling – struggles to flip hips smoothly and recover when matched against shifty slot receivers in space.
- Ball production doesn't match his overall defensive impact – just three interceptions across his final three seasons suggests limitations tracking the ball in flight.
- Coverage instincts lag behind his run-defense awareness – relies too heavily on physical attributes rather than anticipating route combinations in zone.
- Concerning injury history raises durability red flags – broken leg (2021) and Lisfranc injury (2023) could impact longevity given his physical playing style.
- Torpedo tackling style leads to occasional whiffs in space – sacrifices form for impact at times, resulting in highlight-reel hits but also frustrating misses.
Scouting Report: Summary
Ransom's tape screams classic box safety with the versatility to become a defensive chess piece in the right system. When you study his game closely, you see a player whose confidence and impact grow exponentially the closer he gets to the line of scrimmage. The Penn State film from 2024 tells the story – he's a different animal when deployed as a hybrid linebacker/safety, shooting gaps and delivering crushing hits that change the temperature of the game.Smart defensive coordinators will maximize Ransom's value by utilizing him primarily in sub-packages where his run-defense prowess and blitzing ability create matchup problems. His alignment versatility offers play-calling flexibility, but his impact will be most felt as an eighth man in the box or big nickel defender rather than a traditional deep safety. The comparison that jumps off the tape is Keanu Neal early in his career – a physical tone-setter who thrives when playing downhill and can be schemed around in obvious passing situations.
His draft positioning likely lands in the mid-Day 3 range, but Ransom could quickly outplay that valuation for teams that deploy heavy sub-package looks requiring interchangeable secondary pieces. Several defensive schemes stand out as natural fits: Baltimore's creative pressure packages, Pittsburgh's physical division of labor in the secondary, or New Orleans' multi-safety personnel groupings. Within the right system, Ransom has the tools to earn a specialized role immediately while competing for a more significant position by his second season. His championship DNA and special teams impact provide additional value that should secure his roster spot while the coaching staff develops his coverage abilities to match his elite run defense skills.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Lathan Ransom percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Lathan Ransom (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
92.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
25.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.