Going into the season, it was unclear whether Lathan Ransom would even have a consistent role in Ohio State’s secondary this season.
Seven games into the year, Ransom has established himself as one of the best safeties in college football. Ransom currently has the highest Pro Football Focus grade (88.2) among all Power 5 safeties this season and was named earlier this week as one of only 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors college football’s best defensive backs.
In Ohio State’s last two games specifically, Ransom’s playmaking ability has been on full display as he made his first career interception against Michigan State and then both forced and recovered a fumble while tying his career-high with eight tackles against Iowa.