When Caleb Ransaw was an up-and-coming freshman on the Sparkman High School football team, the Senators’ season ended in 49-7 loss to Hoover in the first round of the 2017 AHSAA Class 7A playoffs.
Two years later, when Ransaw’s brother, Gavin Ransaw, was an All-State defensive lineman, Sparkman’s season ended in a 21-3 loss to Hoover in the first round of the 2019 AHSAA Class 7A playoffs.
Caleb Ransaw’s senior campaign came to a close in a 49-14 loss to Hoover in the first round of the 2020 AHSAA Class 7A playoffs.
It wasn’t personal: Sparkman’s 2021 season – with Ransaw playing college football with Troy – ended in a 56-14 loss to Hoover in the first round of the AHSAA Class 7A playoffs.
“Every time we get to the playoffs,” Ransaw said after a practice for the Reese’s Senior Bowl this week, “we played them in the first game.”
Ransaw put Hoover behind him by playing three seasons with the Trojans before completing his college career at Tulane in 2024 and returning to his home state for Mobile’s annual all-star game.
Ransaw’s brother Gavin also played college football on a new team in 2024 as a defensive lineman at Coastal Carolina. Gavin is 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds. Caleb measured 5-foot-10 7/8 and 196 pounds at the Senior Bowl weigh-in.
“Out of all my brothers, I’m the smallest,” Caleb Ransaw said. “I don’t know. I guess luck.”
What’s lucky about being the smallest? Because he’s also the fastest – an essential trait for a defensive back.
Ransaw is listed on the American roster for the Senior Bowl as a safety. While he played mainly cornerback – outside and slot – during his college career, Ransaw isn’t fazed by the safety designation.
“That I can play man and zone,” Ransaw said of his message to the NFL scouts watching practice this week. “That I’m versatile. I can play any defensive-back spot – nickel, corner, strong, free.”
Jon Sumrall will back up Ransaw’s versatility claim. Sumrall served as Troy’s head coach in 2022 and 2023 and continued to coach Ransaw as Tulane’s head coach in 2024.
“It’s fun watching him work at safety,” Sumrall said at Senior Bowl practice on Tuesday. “He’s played predominantly nickel the last couple of years. Our first year together at Troy, he played outside at corner. He’s got so much position versatility. He’s got enough size to fit the run in the box. He’s got the speed and the movement ability to play on the perimeter and defend and cover slot receivers and wide receivers, and so a smart player, a headsy player.
“It’s really been fun to watch his growth and development. He’s a football junkie. He can draw up all 11 of our defense. Loves the game. It’s fun watching him get this opportunity because he’s put a lot of work into it.”
Sumrall’s shift from Troy to Tulane included some assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato, and, eventually, Ransaw.
“It worked out well,” Ransaw said of his season with the Green Wave. “My decision, really, was I trusted my coaching staff. They’re very big on high standards, and that’s what I want to play with.”
After his first day of Senior Bowl practice, Ransaw said he had room for improvement as he adjusts to more work at safety.
“I think I did pretty good, just me being at safety – free and strong,” Ransaw said. “I feel like things will improve. I’m not perfect, but I’m going to clean it up regardless. I’m going to get that done.”
The Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. NFL Network will televise the game.
As the youngest of three brothers, Ransaw knows he has a cheering section in his corner.
“My brothers and my dad, they’re a strong support system for me,” Ransaw said. “They always count on me and are confident in my abilities, just like myself.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.