Lathan Ransom making clear case as threat to win Thorpe Award for Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — Once the feel good stories about Lathan Ransom returning to action just eight months after snapping his leg were written, he still had to perform for Ohio State.

Sure, it was awesome the junior safety was able to be back at full strength in time for training camp, trying to compete for a starting spot despite his should-have-been long-term setback.

Returning was one thing. Returning to play at a level which might put him in position to be the Thorpe Award favorite is another. Ransom barreled through the former. He is absolutely becoming the latter.

Yes, it’s time to start the conversation: Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom is mounting a case to win the Thorpe Award. Saturday was the best proof of that yet.

“I didn’t like the way I played personal last week, so I think this week, I came in with a different approach to the game. I was more focused,” Ransom said Saturday. “And I just appreciate my coaches putting me in situations to make plays. …

“There are plays that I didn’t make that I should’ve made. I had to fix that. I’m working to get better every day. At this point, that’s what Coach [Perry Eliano] always stresses to us: How can we continue to get better and improve. We’re all just trying to find ways to do that.”

Ransom delivered his best stat line of the season to punctuate his rising stock in a wide open Thorpe Award race. He had nine total tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup on defense. Oh, and he burst through the Indiana wall for a blocked punt in the second half to set up an easy Ohio State touchdown.

His ball-hawking interception at Michigan State last month started it all. In every game since then, he has tallied at least seven tackles. He made the Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist cut. Of course, he doesn’t have the same numbers as some other defensive backs around the country — two passes deflected and just one interception.

Roll the tape, though. His impact has earned him a spot among the best defensive backs in America.

“He was all over the place,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “He did a really good job with Parker Fleming on that [punt block] adjustment. That was something that was a little bit of an adjustment based on what they were doing. And he was able to put that on the field. And I think that’s a sign of a mature player that you can talk about on the sideline, make an adjustment and go put it on the field in a game like that at competitive excellence. We’ve worked hard on that. We’ve worked hard on on the tracks of blocking punts. And there’s an art to that.”

Ransom loved getting his hands on the ball for a big special teams play. And it just added another layer to the impact he has brought to the Buckeyes secondary.

“We practice that,” Ransom said. “Every week, we practice trying to block the punt without hitting the punter and stuff like that. And I’ve been wanting to block a punt since I’ve been on punt block. So I’m just happy I finally got the chance to.”

Special teams, defense, it doesn’t matter. If Lathan Ransom is on the field, he is having an impact on games. He is proving to be among the best at what he does around the country, proven in his 84.7 defensive grade from ProFootball Focus this season.

The chatter is already ongoing. It’s time for it to grow louder.

Lathan Ransom is going from feel good story to superstar at a rapid pace. Now if he can keep playing at this level, he’ll have a clear case to win the Thorpe Award.

Saturday was proof that he might just make it happen.