Former Alabama high school standout returns to the field after missing the 2025 NFL season

After a frustrating rookie season spent entirely on injured reserve, former Sparkman High School standout Caleb Ransaw is finally back where he belongs: on the football field. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Ransaw in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but a foot injury requiring surgery sidelined the defensive back since July, forcing him to miss his entire debut campaign.

A Necessary Return

Jaguars coach Liam Coen emphasized that the team's current organized team activities (OTAs) are vital for the former Troy and Tulane defensive back. While Ransaw spent his year of recovery diligently studying the playbook and watching film, Coen noted that there is no substitute for live reps.

"It’s so hard to take a step and really feel comfortable without doing it," Coen said. "This time is huge for Caleb to actually go through those motions, to make those calls, to see the defense work from his vantage point and how things work together."

Adapting to the Safety Position

The Jaguars’ long-term vision for Ransaw involves transitioning him from a college cornerback into a safety. The shift is one Ransaw feels prepared to handle, drawing on his experience playing nickel defense during his college career at Troy and Tulane.

"It’s football at the end of the day," Ransaw said. "Obviously, I’m just a little further back now, so it’s the same thing to a certain extent."

Ransaw arrives with significant physical upside, having turned heads at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, which ranked as the sixth-fastest time of the event.

Looking Ahead

With Andrew Wingard departing for the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville is looking for depth at the safety position alongside veterans Antonio Johnson and Eric Murray. Ransaw, who admitted he had to stay focused to keep his confidence up during his long road back to health, is ready to fight for his spot as the team moves through OTAs—a Phase 3 offseason program allowing for 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills—before heading toward training camp.

"Not to lose confidence -- that was one big thing," Ransaw said regarding his time away. "It’s no telling how things will work out in the season, but I’m going to just keep working regardless."

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