Buckeyes Starting Safety Lathan Ransom To Miss Nebraska Game

COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes will be without starting strong safety Lathan Ransom today when No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) hosts Nebraska (5-2, 2-2). The graduate senior suffered an undisclosed injury last week in practice.

Buckeye head coach Ryan Day said on Wednesday that Ransom’s injury was not a long-term situation and characterized it more as “day to day.” Ransom is second on the team with 29 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

As to how Ohio State will choose to replace Ransom, they have a number of options. They could simply go with one of the two main backup safeties in freshman Jaylen McClain or sophomore Malik Hartford, or they could move senior nickel Jordan Hancock to one of the two safety spots and then have sophomore Caleb Downs either stay at free safety or move to Ransom’s strong safety spot.

Last year when Ransom was lost for the season, the Buckeyes chose to move starting nickel Sonny Styles to safety. If they move Hancock, then fourth-year junior Lorenzo Styles, Jr. would likely step in at nickel. Sophomore Jermaine Mathews would also be an option there as well.

As part of Ohio State’s availability report, tight end Will Kacmarek was also officially listed as out following an arm injury against Oregon. His injury is not expected to be season-ending. Starting left tackle Josh Simmons is also listed as out, though his injury has already been announced as season-ending.

Without Simmons, the Buckeyes will turn to fourth-year junior Zen Michalski. Michalski has seen snaps on offense in every game this season and has performed well enough in practice to keep the job. There will be contingency plans in place, however, should things go poorly. The confidence is high that Michalski will be able to handle things this week.

Also new to the report this week is freshman cornerback Aaron Scott. Scott had seen time on defense in every game this season until the Oregon loss.

There are no Buckeyes listed as questionable, and junior running back Quinshon Judkins is not part of the list at all. Day said earlier in the week that Judkins was feeling better and was good to go.

Here is the full availability report.