From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Tulane defensive back Caleb Ransaw.
#7 CALEB RANSAW/CB TULANE – 5113, 197 pounds (Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Caleb Ransaw 5113/197 9 3/4 30 3/4 75 5/8
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.33 1.52 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’9” 40 16
The Good
— Good size and solid length
— Elite speed and very good explosive numbers (vertical, broad jump)
— Experience in man and zone coverage
— Mostly slot snaps and also played on the edge/in the box
— Speed to run with the deep routes and stay in phase
— Potential to be a very good blitzer from the slot
— Rotated deep to Cover2/3 zone coverage
— Solid awareness in downhill change of direction from deep alignment
— Physical taking on blocks and being the force defender
— Good tackler with strong wrap-up technique
The Bad
— Tight hips and delayed open in man coverage
— Despite physical play, rarely used to jam receiver
— Feet get quiet at the break point, leaving him to chase
— Hyper focused on his assignment in man; loses sight of the ball
— On deep throws, doesn’t get his head around
— Limited career ball production
— Gets tall taking on blocks and will be driven backward
— Play doesn’t match his athletic/speed profile
Bio
— Career: 115 tackles, 68 solo, 10 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 8 PBU, 1 FR
— 2024: 34 tackles, 24 solo, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 3 PBU
— 47 games
— 2021: 2023 at Troy; 2024 at Tulane
— 2025 Senior Bowl invitee
— Third team All-AAC 2024
— 2022: Troy’s top-rated tackler per Pro Football Focus, missing just two tackles
— 720 snaps in the slot the last two years
— Cousin is defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick
— Birthday 12/22/2002 (22)
Tape Breakdown
Caleb Ransaw is a defensive back with good height and weight, solid length, and good hand size. He was utilized primarily in the slot but also lined up on the edge and in the box. He was asked to play man and zone coverages.
Against the pass, he played primarily soft press coverage in the slot, with solid balance and pad level and a smooth backpedal. He played primarily in trail man coverage and has very good speed to catch up or run with the deep routes. Within the route, he has solid hand usage to keep the receiver from gaining the advantage. When blitzing, he showed good acceleration to get into the backfield.
In zone coverage, he displayed solid awareness and spacing when playing underneath. They used him to rotate to the deep safety position in covers 2 and 3. He gets solid depth, has a solid change of direction, and takes good angles when coming downhill.
On these plays, he was able to make a play to push the receiver out of bounds.
Against the run, from the slot or on the edge, when taking on blocks, he showed good aggressiveness, hand placement, and solid play strength to fight through the block. He displays good effort and depth as the force player and has good acceleration from the backside to chase down the line of scrimmage. Overall, he is a good tackler with good play strength and pad level wrapping up ball carriers to take them down.
He has tight hips and is delayed opening in press coverage. His feet get quiet at the break point, leaving him to chase the play.
In the games I watched, he rarely jammed the receiver, which was a bit confusing given his physicality versus the run. On deep throws, he plays the receiver and rarely gets his head around it, which costs him opportunities to make a play on the ball.
Here, he is in a good position, and if he gets his head around, there is a good chance for an interception. Instead, he gets flagged for pass interference.
When in press coverage, he is hyperfocused on his receiver and will lose sight of the ball, allowing runners to gain yards with his back to the ball. When taking on run blocks, he will play too tall and get driven back. He doesn’t play as athletically as his profile projects.
Conclusion
Overall, Ransaw has good size, solid length, and very good hand size. His testing showed elite speed and very good athleticism. He played mostly in the slot in soft-man alignment while executing trail-man coverage. He has solid hand usage and the speed to run with anyone within the route. In zone, he displayed solid awareness and change of direction. As a run defender, he showed good aggressiveness and hand placement to take on blocks or be the force defender and is a good tackler.
Areas for improvement include showing the ability to play in press coverage, limiting space at the break point, and getting his head around deep throws. Keeping his focus between his assignment and the ball will help him make more tackles.
Ransaw is an interesting evaluation with outstanding testing numbers but below-average production. He has the demeanor to jam receivers, but he was not used that way. With the right coaching and improvement, I think he could be more disruptive in the passing game and produce more ball production. He would be best against big slot/TE in Man coverage and/or as a split safety. Initially, he could also be a gunner on punt coverage and a core special team player.
As a player comp, I’ll go with Nate Hobbs. He was similar in his athletic profile, coverage, and tackling, but he also had the issue of not finding the ball.
Projection: Mid-Day Three
Depot Draft Grade: 6.7 – Fifth Round (Backup/Special Teamer)
Games Watched: 2024 – Vs Kansas State, At Oklahoma, Vs South Florida, Vs Memphis, At Army
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