Tag: Lathan Ransom

Ohio State football issues availability report for Penn State Nittany Lions

Ohio State football issues availability report for Penn State Nittany Lions #GoBucks

Ohio State football kicks off against the Penn State Nittany Lions at noon on Fox for one of the year’s most anticipated games. The biggest concern for Ohio State was the potential loss of starting safety, Lathan Ransom. The defensive star missed last week and his absence was clear, but Buckeye fans can breathe easier knowing he was not mentioned on the injury report.

Now on the offensive side of the ball, a regular contributor was listed as out in tight end, Will Kacmarek. Gee Scott Jr. and Kacmarek rotate at the tight end position and him missing another game is not ideal for a struggling offense. The former Ohio Bobcat missed last week as well and it was obvious.

With Penn State featuring an elite defensive line, Kacmarek and his blocking is an underrated skill that will surely be noticed today. Starting offensive tackle, Zen Michalski is also missing today’s game. Michalski played extremely poorly last week, but missing another starting offensive lineman is not a great situation. The rest of the injury report is as follows:

  • WR Reis Stocksdale
  • TE Will Kacmarek
  • OL Zen Michalski
  • RB TC Caffey
  • OL Josh Simmons

Ohio State football issues availability report for Nebraska Cornhuskers

Ohio State football issues availability report for Nebraska Cornhuskers #GoBucks

Ohio State football kicks off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at noon on Fox and it will be without a few studs. Rumors were floating around all week in regard to the availability of starting safety, Lathan Ransom and it has been confirmed today that he will be missing today’s contest.

We all witnessed the injury to starting offensive tackle, Josh Simmons against the Oregon Ducks and head coach, Ryan Day confirmed the seriousness of the injury on Thursday. Simmons missing today’s action is not a surprise as it was confirmed he will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Another key contributor who will miss time is Will Kacmarek. The tight end has played a huge role within the offensive rotation and will certainly be missed today. Freshman cornerback, AAron Scott Jr. was also listed as out for today’s game. The whole availability report is as follows:

Out

RB TC Caffey
TE Will Kacmarek
S Lathan Ransom
CB Aaron Scott Jr.
OT Josh Simmons
WR Reis Stocksdale

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Ohio State football one of 12 Power 4 programs in this crucial defensive stat

Ohio State football had a dominant 52-6 win to open the season, and its defense was among the most impressive in the country.

Ohio State football had an explosive offensive showing in its Week 1 win over the Akron Zips.

Winning 52-6, the Buckeyes struggled to get going early, having been up just 7-3 at the end of the first, but they figured things out and really started to put it on the MAC side.

While Ohio State’s offense will be what most talked about, it is the defense that might be the more potent side. The Buckeyes defense was among the best in the country last season and had a dominant Week 1 start.

Ohio State gave up just 2.8 yards per play, the 8th-best mark in the Power 4. While LSU and and USC are still set to play, given the high-profile nature of both offenses, neither defense is expected to be on this list.

The Buckeyes didn’t play a capable offense like they will later in the season, but their defense got in the end zone twice and displayed why they should be considered an elite unit. While the linebacking unit is strong, the defensive line and secondary are what make this well-oiled machine work at its best.

Ohio State had two interceptions and five sacks. The leaders of the respective units, JT Tuimoloau and Lathan Ransom, combined for 1.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for a loss and a touchdown.

Expect the Buckeyes defense to continue to drastically limit opponents moving forward, especially with Western Michigan on the docket for Week 2.

WATCH: Lathan Ransom scoop and score gives Ohio State four-score lead

Jim Knowles asked for more turnovers and the OSU defense is delivering. #GoBucks

The Ohio State football offense hasn’t looked great, but its defense has!

The defensive line is putting pressure on the Akron quarterback while the secondary continues to show that it might be among the best in the country. Lathan Ransom is a huge reason in its success.

Ransom made arguably the most notable defensive play with his third quarter scoop and score. Here’s the video below as Ransom’s score pushed the Buckeyes lead to 28 points and sent the Ohio State faithful into a frenzy in the second half after a slow start.

https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1830004444202746113

The Buckeyes only have one player on their defense that wasn’t there a season ago — free safety Caleb Downs. Ransom has been a cornerstone of this defense for several seasons, and the senior has made his presence felt early.

Expect more highlight-reel plays from Ransom over the last few months.

Jim Knowles thinks safety, linebacker depth will be Ohio State’s main weakness

Ohio State will have a slew of players returning on the defensive side of the ball, and safety depth is the only thing worrying Jim Knowles. #GoBucks

The Ohio State Buckeyes are poised to have one of the best defenses in the nation.

Last season, they were good, and this season, they’re expected to be even better. Ohio State is returning many key starters, including safety Lathan Ransom, who was among the key secondary leaders.

While he and Caleb Downs will main the free and strong safety position, the depth behind them should injuries set in throughout the long season is what is on defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ mind.

Knowles sat down with the Columbus Dispatch’s Bill Rabinowitz and spoke on everything defense. Here’s an interesting part where he touched base on where the weakness of this formidable unit could lie.

“No. I think depth at safety − it’s going to be a long season − and development of those linebackers that have not played a lot of that position (is an issue),” Knowles said. “Sonny is making the transition. C.J. has been developing for two years and has to be the guy this year along with Sonny, so we need to get those guys on the field and going. Then who’s next at linebacker − Gabe Powers, Arvell Reese – already capable guys. And then the depth of safety. We’ve got Caleb Downs, who’s a great player with a great football mind and football intelligence. And Lathan (Ransom) is back. Who’s going to step up behind them? Malik Hartford, (Jayden) Bonsu, Keenan (Nelson Jr.) our transfer from South Carolina. So the depth at safety and linebacker (is a concern) because it’s a long season.”

Overall, Ohio State, who sat atop the nation in opponents passing yards last season, don’t have a ton to worry about. The defensive unit is strong, and the front should allow little time for receivers to get open regardless.

However, if there is one weak point, it’ll be safety depth. That said, let’s hope that isn’t one tested this upcoming season.

Two Ohio State defenders will stay in school and won’t enter the 2024 NFL draft

Ohio State defenders Jack Sawyer and Lathan Ransom will stay in school and won’t enter the 2024 NFL draft

Most of the draft news this time of year is about players who are leaving college to pursue their NFL dreams. Two Ohio State defenders who almost certainly would be drafted have made news by choosing to stay in school.

EDGE Jack Sawyer and safety Lathan Ransom both posted on social media on Friday that they are returning to the Buckeyes for the 2024 campaign. As such, they are not declaring for this year’s draft.

Sawyer racked up 6.5 sacks and 10 TFLs in 2023 and was generally projected in the 75-100 overall range if he declared. Ransom was viewed as a Day 3 type of talent. Now they both can further develop their games if they wish to pursue NFL dreams after the next college season in Columbus.

A third Buckeyes defender, cornerback Denzel Burke, made an ambiguous social media post of his own. Burke, potentially a top-40 overall talent, did not clarify his draft status.

Ohio State to be without important starter for Cotton Bowl

The secondary will be dealing with a lack of depth in the Cotton Bowl. #GoBucks

By the time the Ohio State football team takes the field in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, it will have been more than a month since it lost the last regular-season game against Michigan. That means there has been plenty of time for bumps and bruises to heal, not only physically, but no doubt psychologically as well.

However, there’s one important member of the secondary that still will not be ready to play: safety Lathan Ransom. That news was disclosed during OSU head coach Ryan Day’s Cotton Bowl arrival press conference on Saturday.

It continues the multiple week — and now multiple month — injury Ransom sustained when he had to leave the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 29. Before being sidelined, Ransom racked up 34 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and an interception.

So who will fill in for Ransom? Most likely the same guy that drew the nod when he was sidelined, sophomore Sonny Styles. However, with some of the transfer portal subtractions, the depth behind him is thin. Kye Stokes and Cam Martinez were both sucked in and out of the transfer portal, so that leaves Josh Proctor, Malik Hartford and Ja’Had Carter as the other three safeties available to play in Dallas.

Ohio State can most likely absorb the depth issues, but we are also still awaiting word on any opt outs leading up to game day. So far, Ohio State looks to be in pretty good shape according to comments Day and other players have made.

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Ohio State football issues availability report for Rutgers game, key players out or questionable

Ohio State football issues availability report for Rutgers game, key players out or questionable #GoBucks

The fine folks with the Ohio State Football team have issued the availability report for the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and the Buckeyes have an issue at defensive back. It is never a good time to lose two starting defensive backs, but a part of me is thankful this is happening against a team that rarely completes a forward pass.

We already knew that Lathan Ransom did not make the trip to New Jersey so that information was not new, but Denzel Burke being listed as out is a bit surprising. As always with these injury reports we get some good news and some bad and this week the good news is the return of Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka is extremely underrated in the national media as no one seems to be discussing the effectiveness of who is arguably the most consistent receiver at Ohio State. The following is the whole availability report:

Out

  • CB Denzel Burke
  • WR Kiyon Grayes
  • DE Jason Moore
  • SAF Lathan Ransom
  • TE Joe Royer

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Ten Ohio State football players who earned their Buckeye leaves against Maryland

Which Buckeyes stood out to you today? #GoBucks

[autotag]Ohio State football[/autotag] shook off their first half bland play to surge ahead of [autotag]Maryland[/autotag] in the second half, to earn a 37-17 win in front of a home crowd.

While the score looks good, there were still aspects of the game that have left much more to be desired. With that said, there was still plenty of good to come out of this win. That does happen when you still come out victorious, while not playing your best.

We will see more Buckeye decals on Ohio State players helmet’s next week against [autotag]Purdue[/autotag] and here are ten players that earned their’s for their play against Maryland.

This stat shows how far Ohio State football’s pass defense has progressed

BIA is back in a big way #GoBucks

One of the biggest issues with last year’s [autotag]Ohio State football[/autotag] defense, was the inability to defend deep passes, it often would result in big plays that would be demoralizing to the unit.

Fast forward to the 2023 season and the Buckeyes seemingly have taken a massive step forward in that regard. Actually, it’s been the whole defense, but this was one area that many saw as a glaring weakness.

With a year under his belt, defensive coordinator [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] feels much more comfortable with his safety driven defense and as CFB Film Room points out, the Ohio State secondary has not allowed a single completion on a ball thrown over 20-yards this fall.

There are multiple factors as to why this is, beginning with improved safety play from [autotag]Lathan Ransom[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Proctor[/autotag]. The back end has been great, while the corners have seen a resurgence as well. [autotag]Denzel Burke[/autotag] is playing like an All-American, and [autotag]Jordan Hancock[/autotag] and [autotag]Davison Igbinosun[/autotag] has been extremely solid in their play as well.

Don’t forget about crediting the defense line, as it has produced the most pressure in the Big Ten through the Notre Dame game (this stat could have changed during the Buckeyes bye). It’s been a team effort to limit big plays through the air and it’s safe to say that Ohio State has been very successful in doing so.

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