What Lathan Ransom’s return means for Ohio State football’s safeties in 2023 (2024)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lathan Ransom’s final impression from the 2022 season involved a stumble and fall, but that was not the sequence that defined the Ohio State football safety’s season.

That came a month prior to the Peach Bowl, when the Buckeyes were trailing 14-10 at Maryland. Ransom took down tight end C.J. Dippre for an 8-yard loss on second down, which eventually led to a Terrapins punt attempt. Then, for the second time in as many games, Ransom raced in off the edge and blocked the punt, setting OSU up for a go-ahead touchdown.

Oh, and Ransom had only recently returned to the game after missing two series — not for performance reasons, but because he needed to have a cast put on the thumb he’d just broken.

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Ransom’s playmaking skills provided a needed jolt to the Buckeyes’ secondary. Now the season’s best comeback story becomes 2023′s source of stability and continuity.

The safety group enters an offseason of transition and turnover. Ransom’s decision to stay for a fourth season rather than pursue the NFL Draft makes him the most tenured contributor in that room. He also possesses upside that could make him a better pro prospect one year from now.

Ransom would not have been anyone’s first choice to emerge as OSU’s semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. He first had to make an impressively quick and complete recovery from a broken leg suffered in the Rose Bowl to even be available for opening night.

By Pro Football Focus’ assessment, Ransom built a solid baseline of performance. He peaked at Michigan State, where his end zone interception was one of only five all season by a member of the secondary. It was also the only 2022 interception by a returning member of this secondary.

Unlike a year ago, Ransom can build on that performance with a normal offseason. His slip and fall on Georgia’s game-turning touchdown in the playoff semifinal will likely be a motivator. His prior performance, though, showed he can be a stabilizer either by staying at Bandit or sliding over to succeed Ronnie Hickman at Adjuster.

The rest of the secondary depth chart may be turning over — though with some intriguing options.

Sonny Styles’ ahead-of-schedule development included snaps on Georgia’s first offensive series in the Peach Bowl. He and OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano both said the Pickerington Central product has trained at all three positions. His frame (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) and usage suggest OSU thinks he profiles best in the box. Regardless of positional fit, he may be hard to keep off the field.

Ja’Had Carter played in a Syracuse defense that utilized three safeties over the top. His role there could make him Tanner McCalister’s natural successor at nickel safety. If that plays out, OSU’s starting group may be set by the end of the spring.

Which means this spring could be a crucial one for some other Buckeyes.

Nickel safety also seems like the most natural fit for Cam Martinez. He spent last season backing up McCalister. Will his ball skills show up and help him secure a bigger role? Injuries keep holding back Kourt Williams II, who served as a captain last season but could not assert his physical presence.

Kye Stokes was one of the bright spots of spring and the preseason. Limited to a depth spot as a true freshman, could his second season be the one in which he emerges as a playmaker?

The two-deep may be as strong, or better, than it was in 2022. If Ransom builds on what he accomplished in his impressive comeback season, that goal will be more within reach.

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