2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Lathan Ransom

As one of the leaders of the national championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes, Lathan Ransom shot up draft boards after this season. The hard-hitting safety is a tone-setter and, when fully healthy, was a critical component of the best defense in college football. Now, the fifth-year senior is primed to be a steal in the NFL Draft. He, along with most of the Buckeyes at the Scouting Combine, did not test and will likely get the rest of his measurables at Ohio State’s Pro Day.

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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Lathan Ransom

Height: 6’0″
Weight: 206 pounds
Arms: 30 1/2″
Hands: 8 1/2″
Vertical: TBD
Broad Jump: TBD
RAS: TBD
School: Ohio State

Lathan Ransom NFL Draft Overview

As part of the 2020 recruiting class, Ransom was a four-star prospect and was considered the fourth-best safety recruit by 247Sports. From the jump, it was obvious that Ransom had the talent to compete in the Big Ten, but there was room for improvement. As a true freshman, he appeared in seven games and totaled just five yards and one pass breakup. His usage increased in 2021 as he amassed 38 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, and a career-best five pass breakups.

Ransom was knocked out of the Rose Bowl, so he missed Spring practices leading up to the 2022 season but he was ready for his breakout. After taking over at safety, Ransom finished third on the defense with 74 tackles, four tackles for loss, one-and-a-half sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and brought in his first interception in the win over Michigan State. Then, in 2023, he took a step back due to injury. In the win over Wisconsin, Ransom suffered a Lisfran tear that shut him down for the rest of the year. Despite that, he recorded 34 tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and an interception.

He elected to return to school in 2024 for one last injury-free season. He made the most of it. The senior safety finished with 76 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, an interception, three forced fumbles, and he returned a fumble for a touchdown in the season opener. He earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors for his play in his senior season.

Strengths

• Great at coming downhill in run support
• Don’t come across the middle in his zone
• Adept at the “Peanut Punch,” forced three fumbles in 2024
• Great at tracking the ball in the air
• Is a weapon as a blitzer
• Can cover tight ends
• Two blocked punts in 2022, will at the very least be a solid special teams player

Weaknesses

• Doesn’t quite have the speed to keep up with vertical speed threats
• Aggressive play resulted in missed tackles too often
• Does not turn to look for the ball in coverage
• Not too productive in coverage; only three career interceptions
• Two major injuries (2021, 2023)

Best Fits: Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings,

Projection: Fourth Round

Bottom Line on Lathan Ransom

Playing next to Caleb Downs, Ransom looks like a legitimate NFL safety for the Buckeyes. He was a force of nature in a defense that used him in a variety of ways. He has the ability to do whatever a defense asks of him but he will mostly likely thrive as a run-stopping box safety. Think Vonn Bell but not a total liability in coverage.

That said, he is not quite the natural athlete that some safeties are in this class. Ransom showed growth in 2024 but those two major injuries will be concerning. Additionally, when tasked with dropping in coverage, he’s not going to be able to keep up with burners and, if he’s in position to make a play, he will not turn to locate the ball. Even then, if he has his eyes on the pass with everything in front of him, Ransom can locate where the ball is going and jar it loose.

Ransom is a tone-setting defender but his ceiling is not Kyle Hamilton high. He can have a long career in the NFL in the right system. Ransom has the build of an NFL safety and can hit with the best of them.