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Ohio State Safety Lathan Ransom Returning For 5th Season

Originally posted on FanNation Buckeyes Now
By Matt Galatzan | Last updated 1/5/24

The Ohio State Buckeyes got their second big announcement of a returning player of the week on Friday morning, with starting safety Lathan Ransom announcing his intentions to return for the 2024 season.

"It's not easy to leave a team. It's much harder to leave a brotherhood," Ransom said in his announcement. "This football program and this university mean too much to me, and we have unfinished business. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to return to the Ohio State University for my final season in 2024."

The announcement comes just two days after standout defensive lineman Tyleik Williams also declared his intentions to return to Colombus.

In 2024, he will likely start alongside Sonny Styles at safety, with Josh Proctor leaving Colombus for a chance at the NFL.

When healthy, Ransom is one of the best defensive players on the Buckeyes roster, and will be leaned on even more heavily due to the exit of Proctor, and the likely losses of Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock to the NFL.

Early in the fourth quarter of their win vs. Wisconsin earlier this season, Ransom was knocked out of the game with what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

The injury appeared to come on a non-contact play, with Ransom immediately heading to the injury tent for further evaluation. Ransom was then carted to the locker room by the Ohio State medical staff.

It was then revealed that he would miss the remainder of the regular season with the injury.

Sitting fourth on the team in tackles at the time of his injury, Ransom had 31 total tackles (20 solo and 11 assisted), to go along with one interception, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, a QB hurry, and .5 tackles for loss coming into the game.

Ransom has suffered a serious injury before, being carted off of the field in the 2022 Rose Bowl as well, breaking his leg against the Utah Utes. However, he was able to come back from that injury and return to his previous form as a star on the Ohio State defense.