The Recap: Everything we learned from Lettermen Row Safeties Week

The summer offseason is in full swing, and Lettermen Row is trying to survive it with our annual Position Week breakdowns. By the time all nine units and coaching staff at Ohio State have been covered, training camp and media days will nearly have arrived, and the return of football in the Horseshoe will be just around the corner. We’re continuing with our eighth positional week with the Buckeyes safeties unit.

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COLUMBUS — Lettermen Row is putting the finishing touches on Safeties Week, a week-long journey to break down in deep detail everything about the Buckeyes room that is loaded with talent. We’re wrapping it all up with a one-stop shop for everything we learned while breaking it all down before we move onto Cornerbacks Week.

Here’s a sneak-peek at one of the positions Lettermen Row projected a depth chart for. Want more of that? Not a member? SUBSCRIBE TO LETTERMEN ROW

Projected Ohio State starters

Lathan Ransom: After breaking his leg in the Rose Bowl following the 2021 season, Lathan Ransom shocked everyone with a quick recovery, ready for training camp last August. He went on to a successful season last year, finishing third on the defense with 74 total tackles. He showed versatility, racking up a pair of sacks and picking off a pass down the field. Ransom even blocked two punts in November, coming in back-to-back games against Indiana and Maryland. He declined the NFL Draft, opting to return to Ohio State for another season, giving the Buckeyes a key starter in the secondary. He is locked in as one of the three starting safeties. Where will he play? Bandit or Adjuster? That remains to be seen.

Josh Proctor: Don’t take this as a prediction that Josh Proctor will keep Sonny Styles on the sideline. He won’t. But my notes from spring ball show Proctor was in the starting lineup during open practices throughout the spring, including the final open viewing period on April 7 and in the spring game on April 15. Of course, Styles was on the field when Proctor wasn’t, showing that both of them will play plenty of snaps. But we are predicting the starting lineup. Proctor has matured on and off the field, and he has impressed this offseason in ways he didn’t during previous offseasons.

For now, Proctor is locked in that lineup as one of the three. Things can change.

Cameron Martinez: The buzz surrounding fourth-year safety Cameron Martinez began in winter workouts. And Lettermen Row sources even indicated that Martinez was pushing for a starting role in the nickel early in spring camp. By the first open scrimmage of the spring, he was the starting nickel back for the Buckeyes. Yes, the Buckeyes brought in Ja’Had Carter to also play in the slot role, but Martinez has gotten much better since late December when Ohio State lost in the Peach Bowl. The bet is on Martinez to be the starting nickel to open the season. He has earned it.

What about Sonny Styles? Find out here: Projecting Buckeyes safeties depth chart

Full coverage of Safeties Week at Lettermen Row

READ: Five Questions for intriguing Ohio State safeties room

READ: Perry Eliano growing alongside Buckeyes safeties this offseason

READ: Versatile safety Ja’Had Carter is ‘up for any challenge’ after transferring to Ohio State

WATCH: Taking closer look at state of Buckeyes safeties room

READ: Lathan Ransom becoming complete leader for Buckeyes in secondary

READ: Predicting how Ohio State will use Sonny Styles in 2023

READ: Can Josh Proctor finally break out for Buckeyes secondary?

READ: Cameron Martinez building confidence, seizing nickel spot in Ohio State defense

READ: Making three predictions about Buckeyes safeties

READ: Best-case, worst-case scenarios for Buckeyes safety room

ICYMI: Buckeyes sending three veteran leaders to Big Ten Media Days

Ohio State is just two weeks away from heading to Indianapolis for Big Ten Media Days.

The Buckeyes have decided who the three veteran leaders who will be representing the program are. Ohio State and the Big Ten announced who will be in attendance for the annual Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, held July 26 and 27. One senior and a pair of juniors will make the trip for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State will head to Big Ten Media Days with head coach Ryan Day, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Cade Stover and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau.

Stover was a team captain last season for the Buckeyes and became one of their biggest offensive weapons during an 11-2 campaign in which they made the College Football Playoff. The fifth-year senior was always a likely choice to head to Indianapolis for Big Ten Media Days.

Tuimoloau and Harrison Jr., meanwhile, weren’t so obvious. They’re both junior playmakers and two of the best at their positions. But the Buckeyes have traditionally sent seniors to be the voices of the program. That’s not to say Tuimoloau and Harrison aren’t worthy of the honor. They certainly are.