Lathan Ransom injury: Ryan Day provides Penn State week update on Ohio State safety

Ahead of a highly-anticipated road game at No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Ohio State is optimistic about the status of safety Lathan Ransom, who was sidelined for this past weekend’s game against Nebraska.

“We’re excited to get a full week of practice out of Lathan,” Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. “So we’ll kind of see, again, how the week goes with him. But good to know that we’ve built some depth back there.”

During Ohio State’s 21-17 win over the Cornhuskers, Jordan Hancock mostly played safety in the Buckeyes’ 4-2-5 base defense. That’s where he made his game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter. Hancock also slid back down to his normal “nickel” cornerback spot at times, but that’s where Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Jermaine Mathews Jr. were typically splitting snaps.

Ohio State opened the game with its 4-3-4 defensive package, which included true freshman Jaylen McClain at the other safety position alongside Caleb Downs.

Styles was in coverage for a key 3rd-and-7 incompletion on Nebraska’s second-to-last offensive series. Mathews recorded half a tackle for loss while helping blow up a screen pass. And McClain had a head-turning pass break-up in the third quarter.

The Ohio State defense allowed only one pass play of 30-plus yards two weeks after giving up four of them in a loss at Oregon. The Buckeyes gave up just 152 yards through the air.

“For Jordan Hancock to move into another position going into last week’s game, which is really a week of preparation, I thought was excellent,” Day said. “And so we do have some flexibility there, moving him around. I felt Lorenzo Styles and Jermaine played well in that game as well.”

Day continued: “So that was good to see because obviously the depth back there was a little bit of a concern. Jaylen McClain gave us some some quality reps back there. So there was quite a few guys getting reps.

“Now we’ll go into this game, and now with Lathan coming back, we’ll kind of figure out what that looks like going into it.”

Hancock also rose to the occasion last season when Ransom suffered a season-ending Lisfranc tear in his left foot. That’s when Hancock broke out at nickel.

Against Nebraska this past weekend, also in the absence of Ransom, Hancock showcased his versatility at safety.

“I think Jordan stepped up really well,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “I mean, that was a big change for him, and he handled it. He handled all of it.

“Having Lathan back, the experience, the run-stopping capability, I think that helps us for sure. And then Jordan can go back to nickel, based on how Lathan really holds up this week.”

Although Ransom missed three tackles at Oregon, per Pro Football Focus, he had missed only three others all season.

He’s allowed just 7.5 yards reception and just one touchdown this year, according to PFF. Before he went down, his 4.5 tackles for loss were tied with Downs for the second most on the team. Ransom’s forced a pair of fumbles, one against Marshall and another at Michigan State, and he notched a scoop-and-score touchdown in the opener versus Akron.

Ransom has dealt with various injuries throughout his Buckeyes career. He broke his leg on kick return coverage during the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2021 season. He broke a thumb during the 2022 season. Then, last season, he missed the final five games of the year after suffering that Lisfranc tear.

The Buckeyes hope to have him back this week at Penn State, where they’ll find themselves against a top-three opponent on the road for the second time in the last three games.