Lathan Ransom, a rookie safety for the Carolina Panthers, is drawing attention during training camp for his focus and physical play. During Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium, special teams coach Tracy Smith approached Ransom to test his readiness. “Let me see your eyes,” Smith said before telling Ransom he would be thrown a ball, despite not having practiced a special teams fake with him during camp.
Ransom recounted the moment after Tuesday’s practice. “As a defensive player, all you want is the ball in your hands, so I couldn’t wait,” he said. When the opportunity came during a stalled drive near the 20-yard line, punter Sam Martin threw to Ransom on a fake punt. Ransom ran 80 yards before being tackled by returner Jimmy Horn Jr., who later worked on tackling drills to improve his form.
The play highlighted Ransom’s willingness to step up in any situation. On Tuesday, he continued to impress by making several plays in rainy conditions, including intercepting quarterback Bryce Young.
Coach Dave Canales praised Ransom’s ability to maintain concentration throughout challenging situations: “I think focus is a skill, I think focus is something you can work on. Refocus is the greater challenge,” Canales said. “Anyone can go out for that first play on a drive and be really focused; but it’s play eight, play 10 when you’re tired, when the environment’s—when it’s really hot, when it’s wet, when it’s cold, and when you have the ability to just focus on your assignment and don’t let all the external factors affect it then you know that’s a that’s a great sign.”
Ransom credited his teammates for their support and energy: “I think just the DBs brought a lot of energy today between, you know, Jaycee, Mike, Demani, Tre, all them, Nick brought a bunch of energy today… So I just put it on the older guys… they just trickle down and had a good effect on us.
“So, it don’t matter if you’re a rookie… like you’re expected, held to the standard that they’re held to so when I go out there… I’m out there making the checks just as confident as the other guys.”
Cornerback Mike Jackson also spoke highly of Ransom: “He’s just a dog, but he’s smart,” Jackson said. “If I tell him something out there, he’ll listen… It’s kind of like he plays football… that’s rare to find in a rookie because normally a rookie is like ‘Well I’m supposed to do this.’ But it’s like they’re giving us this look… we can play the play.
“And he was doing that in OTAs… Normally you don’t get a rookie to start doing that until the middle of the season… He kind of like in the Chau Smith-Wade kind of mold in that he’s really smart has really good instincts.”
Ransom continues to earn more opportunities as part of Carolina’s safety group as training camp progresses toward preseason games. Coach Canales noted: “I think one thing that I’m noticing about him is he always seems to be in great position to make a play,” Canales said. “And that comes with study… owning your leverage analyzing the formation run pass and then putting yourselves in an athletic position to make plays and I can’t be happier with where he’s at and where he’s headed.”
With joint practices against the Cleveland Browns ahead and an upcoming preseason game Friday night against them as well, Ransom looks forward to showing his trademark physicality from his Ohio State days.
“I think you know anytime you get on the field you get your pads on and you get an opportunity to go out there and hit show your physicality so yeah I’m excited to go out there and play against another team and I’m excited to see what our team looks like and have great energy tomorrow and for the rest of this week.
“I come with a chip on my shoulder even though I have a lot of energy I joke around a lot but you know when the pads come on a different person comes out so that’s just a person that oozes physicality and just goes out there and plays with a chip on his shoulder.”
