Lathan Ransom is staying for one more year.
The Ohio State safety announced Friday that he will use his fifth year of eligibility to play one more season with the Buckeyes in 2024.
Ransom, who has another season of eligibility because of the extra year of eligibility all players received in 2020 when Ransom was a true freshman, had been expected to leave for the 2024 NFL draft until his season was cut short by a lower leg injury in Ohio State’s final game of October. Before his injury, Ransom recorded 34 total tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and two pass breakups as Ohio State’s starting strong safety for the first eight games of the season.
Instead of ending his Ohio State career with an injury-shortened campaign, Ransom will stay in Columbus with his sights set on playing a full season and leading Ohio State’s secondary in 2024.
With Ransom’s decision to stay at OSU, he and Sonny Styles are the leading candidates to be the Buckeyes’ starting safeties in 2024, though it’s uncertain who would play free safety between them after both played primarily at strong safety this past season. Malik Hartford and Ja’Had Carter are also candidates to see playing time at safety.
Ransom becomes the third prominent upperclassman from Ohio State’s 2023 defense to confirm he will stay for the 2024 season rather than enter the 2024 NFL draft, joining defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and linebacker Cody Simon.
Draft-eligible defensive starters who have not yet announced draft decisions include defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton and cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall and linebacker Steele Chambers have confirmed they will enter the 2024 NFL draft while linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has accepted a Senior Bowl invitation and safety Josh Proctor has exhausted his eligibility.
