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

Rivals.com
24/7Sports

SAFETY
6'1'' | 185 LBS
CLASS OF 2020

Ohio State has offered.

 

This one is a big one! I am extremely excited and blessed to say I have received my 21st Division I offer from The Ohio State University!! Thank you @LancerFBcoach @OhioStateFB @ryandaytime #GoBucks ⭕️❌ pic.twitter.com/uGPxePz8cI

— LR12 (@L8thanRansom) January 24, 2019

 

Check out Lathan Ransom Sophomore Highlights by Lathan Ransom on @hudl https://t.co/McIbI9Z9kH #hudl

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) January 26, 2019

 

Ohio State working on Arizona star Lathan Ransom
The Buckeyes are one of a handful of major college programs hoping to increase their visibility in the state of Arizona, and they’re off to a good start with Jack Miller and Darvon Hubbard committed in 2020 alongside aggressive recruiting efforts with 5-star cornerback Kelee Ringo and 4-star tailback Bijan Robinson.

They’re also working hard to land Robinson’s teammate at Tuscon Salpointe Catholic, defensive back Lathan Ransom. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety, Ransom was offered by Ohio State in late January, and he told Lettermen Row he’s been hearing from the Buckeyes very regularly.

“I’ve been talking to their coaches every other day,” the country’s 12th-ranked safety said. “[Defensive coordinator Jeff] Hafley and [running backs] Coach [Tony] Alford. The relationship is really good.”

The relationship is good enough that just two weeks after extending the scholarship offer to Ransom, he’s already got his first visit to Ohio State scheduled.


“Me and my dad are coming to Ohio State on Feb. 24,” he said. “We’ll be at Notre Dame the day before. I like what the whole coaching staff [at Ohio State] stands for. It’s a brotherhood full of great guys.”

The Buckeyes will have to show Ransom what their football program is all about to earn consideration for one of his official visits later in the year. They’ll also have a little added pressure on this upcoming trip, because there’s no doubt Ransom’s experience will play a role in their recruitment of the aforementioned Bijan Robinson, one of the top two running back priorities for Ohio State. Ransom and Robinson “always talk” about playing in college together.

“I’m going to cut my list down a little in about a month,” Ransom said. “The biggest thing Ohio State has to show me is if I attend their school is will make me a better man, student and football player?

“I’ll definitely tell [Robinson] how I like it. He talks very highly of Ohio State, and he definitely wants to get out there.”

 

Four-star 2020 Arizona DB Lathan Ransom (@L8thanRansom) talks about his recent Texas offer #HookEm. https://t.co/RZD1Xc3JHX pic.twitter.com/SDbVq6zWxR

— "EJ Holland" (@EJHollandOn3) February 18, 2019

 

Top 100 S Lathan Ransom set for his first visit to Columbus, #Buckeyes have been aggressive in pursuit of the four-star prospect in recent weeks: https://t.co/YpXiEIDGpJ

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) February 21, 2019

 

Extremely blessed and excited to have received my 28th Division I offer from Auburn University!! Thank you @LancerFBcoach @AuburnFootball @KennyDillingham #WarEagle 🦅 pic.twitter.com/8a64AtQ3z4

— LR12 (@L8thanRansom) February 22, 2019

 

Lathan Ransom Making His Visits
Four-star Arizona safety Lathan Ransom landed in Indiana on Friday, the Tucson-native announced via Twitter. He is visiting Notre Dame on Friday before heading toward Columbus to check out Ohio State to round out his weekend of visits.

Ransom has been recruited by Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley, as well as head coach Ryan Day and running backs coach Tony Alford.


Ransom has offers from Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA, USC and others, but in conversations with Day, Salpointe Catholic head coach Dennis Bene said he's been impressed by the culture Day is setting for the Buckeyes.

“I’ve been impressed with Coach Day and the things he talks about and the kind of culture that they have," Bene said. "He's trying to continue what Coach Meyer had at Ohio State. I think Lathan will fit in there just fine.”

At 6-foot-2, 183 pounds, Bene said that Ransom's best trait is his versatility. He can play in zone coverage, man-to-man pressed against any team's No. 1 wideout or in the box against a strong running team. These facets to his game open up Ransom for availability on special teams too, which could offer him early playing time.

While in Indiana, Ransom also collected an offer form Auburn.

As a junior, Ransom recorded 38 tackles and four interceptions on defense and 20 catches for seven total touchdowns.

Ransom is also the teammate of five-star running back Bijan Robinson, who Bene said is setting up plans for visits after April.

 

ND Football Recruiting | 2020 Four-Star S Lathan Ransom Blown Away By Notre Dame

“It blew past my expectations." - @L8thanRansom https://t.co/sUzeMQ2x1b

— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) February 24, 2019

 

F I G H T I NG I R I S H🍀 #GoIrish #IrishBouNDXX pic.twitter.com/jaZJLmaQQL

— LR12 (@L8thanRansom) February 25, 2019

 

After visiting #OhioState, elite safety @L8thanRansom says @ryandaytime and @CoachJeffHafley left an "immense impression" on him. VIP https://t.co/163aZB1KUP

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) February 25, 2019

 

#Buckeyes trending in the right direction for Top 100 safety Lathan Ransom after this weekend's visit: https://t.co/ZZWyPeMU91

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) February 25, 2019

 

Lathan Ransom impressed by Buckeyes, Ryan Day
Ohio State is trying hard to make itself at home recruiting in Arizona, and it got its first chance to impress one of that state’s best players on Sunday. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson) 4-star safety Lathan Ransom visited on Sunday and spent a full day at Ohio State.

“I got great vibes,” he said. “Everything stood out. From the culture that [coach Ryan] Day is creating and what [defensive coordinator Jeff] Hafley is bringing from the NFL to their interest in me and how they not only take football seriously but also academics.

“The campus was beautiful. I loved how close it was to the city and how it surrounded the stadium. It’s not too big at all.”

The approximately eight-hour long visit came after a Saturday visit to Notre Dame. Ransom, the country’s 10th-ranked safety, was flying back home to Arizona from South Bend late Sunday night. He’s used to extreme weather conditions living in Arizona, and he admitted that the incredibly windy conditions on Sunday were interesting. But colder weather isn’t going to lessen his interest in the Buckeyes.

“The wind was crazy,” he said. “But I deal with extreme heat all the time. I would have to get used to the conditions.”

Most of the day was spent inside, of course — and with the Ohio State coach. It was not the first meeting with Day, who offered the 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect in person last month.

“I like Coach Day a lot,” Ransom said. “I had already met him before, because he offered me in person, but I like what he stands for. He wants to create a brotherhood at Ohio State, and I also like how he cares for the players there.”

Ransom is a teammate of 5-star tailback Bijan Robinson, who is one of the Buckeyes top overall targets in 2020. And he’ll be giving a very positive review of the visit to Robinson.

“I’ll tell him it was a great experience,” Ransom said. “He needs to see it for himself. Ohio State lands toward the top of my list.”

 

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EXTREMELY BLESSED AND EXCITED TO SAY I HAVE RECEIVED MY 29TH DIVISION I OFFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA!! THANK YOU @LancerFBcoach @AlabamaFTBL @CoachJeffBanks #RollTide 🐘 pic.twitter.com/vvbzOJDIl2

— LR12 (@L8thanRansom) February 27, 2019

 

Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic four-star safety Lathan Ransom had strong showing at #adidas7v7, sets his first official visit to #Oklahoma and discusses the latest in his recruitment and time frame for a decision: https://t.co/CpwJwhMmM6 pic.twitter.com/oa3s2nQtbA

— Blair Angulo (@BlairAngulo) March 12, 2019

 

2020 Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe 4-star DB Lathan Ransom talks upcoming Big 12 visits, including trip to Norman. https://t.co/AFBeyREJWb (via @adamgorney)

— SoonerScoop.com (@SoonerScoop) March 19, 2019

 

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Lathan Ransom to Make Official Visit to Ohio State
Four-star safety Lathan Ransom is one of the top safety targets for Ohio State in the 2020 class, and it turns out that Ransom shares some mutual interest for the Buckeyes. He said he is looking for a school with a strong defensive back presence, and he knows Ohio State can offer that.

“If you play DB at Ohio State, you know you’re legit,” Ransom said.

Ransom made the trip to Columbus from Arizona in late-February and left feeling impressed. He talks to head coach Ryan Day, secondary coach Jeff Hafley and running backs coach Tony Alford every day and can tell that they want him to play for Ohio State, he said.


Ransom said that Hafley, being a new defensive backs coach, made a really good impression on him and that he believes Ohio State will continue to produce NFL-caliber cornerbacks and safeties in the future.

He also said that he appreciates the way Day preaches brotherhood in a genuine way.

Ransom is one of the most physical and athletic safeties in the 2020 class. Ranked as the No. 4 safety in the class, he recorded 82 tackles, a sack, six interceptions, eight pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a junior. He also contributed in the passing game on the offensive side of the ball.

“They and other coaches like my physicality and my intelligence and my feel for the game,” Ransom said. “I can always get bigger and faster, but I really want to work on getting out of my breaks faster.”

Ransom is the teammate of five-star running back Bijan Robinson at Salpointe Catholic in Tucson, and the two have frequent conversations about their recruitment. They both share interest in the Buckeyes, and Robinson, the No. 5 running back in his class, is also one of Ohio State’s top targets at his position for the 2020 class.

Robinson has run for 4,423 yards and 61 touchdowns between his sophomore and junior years, and Ransom said he relishes the opportunity to compete against and with Robinson at the high school level.

“We’re always competing,” Ransom said. “He can catch the ball better than a lot of receivers in our league. We always talk about how we’d love to play at the same school.”

Ransom said he plans to visit Texas unofficially in June and to make official visits to Oklahoma, LSU and Ohio State. He also hopes to commit around July, he said.

 

FAMILY VIBES IN ⭕️U #BoomerSooner #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/xvyxYeojiF

— LR12 (@L8thanRansom) April 14, 2019