Caleb Ransaw boosted his draft stock at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 28 when he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash \u2013 the sixth-fastest overall and the third-fastest among the cornerbacks at this year\u2019s event. <\/p>\n
But perhaps Ransaw should be viewed as the combine\u2019s fastest safety, because the former Sparkman High School standout will begin his NFL career at that position after the Jacksonville Jaguars chose him in the third round<\/a> of the 90th draft on April 25.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll have the entire defensive-back group that he\u2019ll be moving in and out of,\u201d Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said<\/a>, \u201cbut I think to start it will be at the safety spot, and then we\u2019ll go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacksonville selected Ransaw from Tulane, where he played one season after three years at Troy<\/a>. Ransaw followed Trojans coach Jon Sumrall and some of his assistant coaches from Troy to the Green Wave in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just a versatile player,\u201d Ransaw said<\/a> about opening his NFL career as a safety. \u201cYou know, I can play at any defensive-back spot, whether that\u2019s nickel, which I\u2019ve been playing. I grew up playing corner. I started at corner in college as well, my sophomore season. And then in the Senior Bowl I showcased safety, so honestly, it\u2019s football to me. I love football. I love the game, so wherever I\u2019m needed and that\u2019s where I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n The Jaguars have done some offseason work on their secondary after yielding the most passing yards in the NFL in 2024. <\/p>\n Jacksonville signed safety Eric Murray from the Houston Texans and slot corner Jourdan Lewis from the Dallas Cowboys as free agents.<\/p>\n Ransaw was the Jaguars\u2019 second draft pick after Jacksonville took Colorado cornerback\/wide receiver Travis Hunter with the second selection.<\/p>\n Gladstone said detailing what he liked about Ransaw would be \u201can endless list<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was somebody that really sparked my interest once I got on the job here,\u201d the first-year general manager said <\/a>after picking Ransaw. \u201cNot a player that I had enough familiarity with walking into the door. But our coaches did such a good job articulating the vision for his usage, opened my eyes to a lot of elements that he possesses. And one of the things that really jumps out more than anything is the versatility, and as we look at that defensive-back room, obviously, the capacity to play corner, play safety \u2013 you know, he showcased the post work at the all-star circuit that really jumped out. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously, if you were to ever look at his stat page, what stands out is his tackle ratio. The root word of the position safety is safe, and he\u2019s somebody that can make sure that when there is someone who gets loose, he can get him down. And you notice that the on-ball production isn\u2019t something that jumps out because he was put in a ton of man tasks and his eyes weren\u2019t on the ball, and once he got to the Senior Bowl and he was playing with vision at the quarterback, playing from the post, he had a lot of on-ball production in that setting. And so that was certainly something that caught our attention. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd, you know, beyond just the on-field play — and this is for both (third-round offensive lineman) Wyatt (Milum) and for Caleb — they are players who possess the Jaguar DNA that we\u2019ve leaned into at each pick point so far and intend on doing the same moving forward, and that is everything that I\u2019ve touched on to date of players and people who are intangibly rich. So that was really something that led us in that direction and stood out from start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n Ransaw will get his first work with the Jaguars this weekend during the team\u2019s rookie minicamp on Friday through Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cExpect a dog,\u201d Ransaw said<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m going 100 percent every play, 110 percent every play, no matter what I\u2019m playing \u2013 special teams, DB, anything. They can put me at lineman, I\u2019m going to give it my all. But, you know, I\u2019m competitive. I\u2019m ready to go in and dominate Day 1.\u201d<\/p>\n FOR MORE OF AL.COM\u2019S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE<\/a><\/p>\n Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1<\/a>.<\/p>\n