2025 NFL Draft: 3 issues to find out about Caleb Ransaw

With the 2025 NFL Draft within the books, it’s time to replicate on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone ship a masterclass, or has he simply set the Jags again 5 years? Fact is, we most likely received’t know that for a while. However we are able to get to know the most recent members of the staff just a little bit higher. Within the first of a mini-series of deep dives, listed below are three issues to find out about Caleb Ransaw, DB, Tulane:

Swiss-Military Knife

Denoting a draft prospect as a ‘defensive again’ somewhat than a cornerback or security can usually go away followers questioning simply the place the most recent member of their staff suits in on their protection. And if you happen to examine Caleb Ransaw’s faculty tape, you continue to received’t be any the wiser as to how he will probably be utilised by the Jags. After two years beginning at Troy, Ransaw adopted his head coach Jon Sumrall to Tulane, the place he elevated his sport and attracted the eye of professional scouts. Previous to hitting the switch portal, Ransaw was your traditional perimeter nook; within the 2022 season – his first as a starter – Ransaw racked up 275 snaps exterior the numbers. However the final two seasons has seen him diversify his portfolio, really turning into a movable chess piece within the secondary…

At 6’0” and roughly 200lbs, it was no shock to see Ransaw utilised within the slot extra closely as his profession progressed. However his bodily demeanor and competitiveness by means of contact allowed Sumrall and his teaching workers to make the most of Ransaw wherever they wanted – and by the point he completed his faculty profession, he had loved 259 snaps on the line of scrimmage, and one other 152 snaps as a field defender. This versatility resulted in some robust manufacturing, with Ransaw heading to the NFL with 115 tackles, 10 TFL’s, 8 cross breakups, an interception and a sack to his title.

The Jaguars, for now, appear to have recognized Ransaw as a security – and little doubt he’ll head into coaching camp pushing Eric Murray for the beginning robust security position. However don’t be shocked to see him shifting across the protection as and when Anthony Campanile requires.

Breaking new floor

When James Gladstone despatched within the card to pick out Caleb Ransaw with the 88th total choice, his solely consideration was probably the defensive again’s skillset and what he might supply the Jaguars for the subsequent 4 years. Unwittingly, nevertheless, he used his second-ever choose for the Jags on a prospect from a faculty that no Jaguars GM earlier than him had recruited from – Ransaw turned the primary participant from Tulane to be drafted by Jacksonville.

Coming off the board within the third spherical, Ransaw was the highest-selected defensive prospect from Tulane to be drafted since 1987, when the Cincinnati Bengals picked nook Eric Thomas at #49. Total, the Inexperienced Wave have had 158 gamers drafted into the league, together with 4 first-round picks and one primary total choose (Tommy Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings). Regardless of residing within the American Convention and being thought of a ‘Group of 5’ soccer program, Tulane has been a daily supply of expertise for the NFL.

While Ransaw often is the first Tulane star to listen to his title known as by the Jags, there are two different alumni of the Inexperienced Wave to put on the well-known black and teal. Kicker Seth Marler was an undrafted free agent addition in 2003, enjoying one 12 months in Jacksonville and making 20 of his 33 discipline objective makes an attempt earlier than being supplanted by Josh Scobee the next season. And linebacker Lonnie Martz ended a ten-year profession within the league with two seasons in Duval County, making 79 tackles, two sacks, two pressured fumbles and one interception.

Familial bloodlines

While I don’t usually subscribe to the notion of bloodlines guaranteeing success within the NFL, it’s fascinating to notice that skilled soccer does run in Caleb Ransaw’s household. Ransaw is the cousin of former Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, who carved out a ten-year profession within the Nationwide Soccer League.

Kirkpatrick plied his faculty commerce with the Alabama Crimson Tide, the place he received two Nationwide Championships and was named a primary staff All-American. His exploits made him a extremely prized draft prospect, who in the end went within the first spherical to the Bengals with the seventeenth total choose. While his skilled profession wasn’t as glittering as his faculty resume, Kirkpatrick was a constant, high-volume contributor in Cincinnati for 8 seasons, and had one thing of an Indian Summer time with the Cardinals in 2020. By the point he hung up his cleats, Kirkpatrick had amassed 365 tackles – and had some severe ball expertise too, making 13 interceptions, two of which he returned for a landing.

Ransaw and Kirkpatrick grew up in Harvest and Gadsden, AL, respectively, simply two hours away from one another. If the Tulane star can come even near delivering a profession to the Jaguars just like the one his cousin had, Gladstone can have unearthed a steal within the third spherical.