Ohio State football: The amazing comeback of Lathan Ransom

When it was learned the broken leg suffered by Lathan Ransom in the Rose Bowl was similar to the one by Josh Proctor nearly four months previous, not many who follow Ohio State football expected to see him on the field to start the 2022 season. Ransom not only played in the opener against Notre Dame, but he also played well enough to be named the starter at bandit safety this week and complete what is an amazing comeback.

The junior from Arizona didn’t start against the Irish, but it wasn’t long before he was in the lineup. On their first offensive play, Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner threw an innocent-looking pass to Lorenzo Styles near the sideline. Proctor came up quickly, but out of control and whiffed on the tackle. Styles turned it into a 54-yard gain. Ransom replaced Proctor and made the most of his opportunity.

Ransom played sideline to sideline and was seemingly everywhere. He finished second on the team with seven tackles-six of those were solo. Probably none was more important or memorable than when the Irish faced a third and seven from their own eight-yard line.

Buchner hit tight end Michael Mayer with a pass just short of the marker. Ransom got under Mayer’s pads, dug in his heels, won a battle with a much larger player to prevent him from getting the first down, and forced the Irish to punt. This allowed the Buckeyes to get good field position that they were eventually able to turn into a Noah Ruggles field goal-their first points of the game.

Ransom put all his work into returning to the Ohio State football team

From the time he was carted off the Rose Bowl turf in an air cast to when he entered the game Saturday is all the fans have seen of him. We don’t see the untold hours of rehab and work Ransom put in during those months he was out of our sight.

OSU safeties coach Perry Eliano talked about his work ethic, “We talk a lot about unseen hours and unrequired work. He puts that in every day. It didn’t surprise me he was ready to go at the start of camp because of all the time he put in when nobody was around.”

ALSO READ: Is this the real Tommy Eichenberg?

Before he was able to begin rehabbing, Ransom used that time to dive into the defensive playbook and learn all he could about the new scheme defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was implementing. The Buckeye defense is now reaping the benefits of improving his football IQ, because Ransom looks very confident and sure of himself.

Ransom and the Buckeyes take on Arkansas State at noon Saturday.