Tulane Green Wave Cornerback Shows Value of Speed Over Size as NFL Combine Standout
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While draft prospects can't control some measurables like height, Tulane Green Wave defensive back Caleb Ransaw showed off every standout trait he possessed in a remarkable performance at the 2025 NFL Combine.
The Tulane football slot cornerback, known as spear on the team, stands a few eighths of an inch short of 6 feet tall. That won't shoot Ransaw up any NFL draft boards.
His explosion and speed will grab the attention of all 32 teams that he displayed at the Combine.
Ransaw is garnering significant momentum after a strong display at the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl, where he spoke with reporters about overcoming his short stature his entire life—particularly with tall older brothers—by his elite speed.
“I can play man and zone,” Ransaw said at the time. “I’m versatile. I can play any defensive back spot—nickel, corner, strong, or free [safety].”
He ended his week in Mobile, Al., with an interception in the Saturday game in a newly designated role at safety.
That performance earned him a trip to Indianapolis, where he complemented that versatility with real speed.
Ransaw recorded the second-highest overall score at the showcase on the RAS calculator.
The widely relied-upon formula was developed by Kent Platte, and he's tracked performances by position from 1987 to the present.
Out of a composite 10 grade, Ransaw scored a 9.96, ranking tenth among 2,480 cornerbacks over that time frame.
Caleb Ransaw is a CB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.96 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 10 out of 2480 CB from 1987 to 2025.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 28, 2025
Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/5h7OmkOUky pic.twitter.com/40jTtPx5Nk
Ransaw shone in the vertical jump and 40-yd dash. He had a 40-inch vertical and a 4.33 40-yd dash. His 1.51 10-yd split also showed elite short-area quickness.
The NFL's NextGen Stats scored athleticism at the Combine out of 100, with scores of 90 and above considered elite.
Ransaw's 92 was one of four defensive backs that earned elite scores.
Multiple reports from the event also highlighted his smooth movement in drills with solid high-point catches in one known as the gauntlet.
Caleb Ransaw gauntlet pic.twitter.com/t5M3BUYHkv
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 28, 2025
That served to solidify the ball skills he displayed in his Senior Bowl pick. Ransaw had eight career pass breakups in his time at Tulane and with the Troy Trojans.
He was a critical veteran who Sumrall knew was essential to bring to the program, given his high football IQ.
"He’s a football junkie," Sumrall said. "He can draw up an all-22 of our defense. He loves the game. It’s fun watching him get this opportunity because he’s put a lot of work into it.”
When a draft prospect has strong film with excellent measurables to back it up, that is a player to watch. It validates game speed that scouts can discern on film but need something quantifiable to back up.
Ransaw earned himself a considerable look from multiple NFL teams through his NFL Combine performance.
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Maddy Hudak is the deputy editor for Tulane on Sports Illustrated and the radio sideline reporter for their football team. Maddy is an alumnus of Tulane University, and graduated in 2016 with a degree in psychology. She went on to obtain a Master of Legal Studies while working as a research coordinator at the VA Hospital, and in jury consulting. During this time, Maddy began covering the New Orleans Saints with SB Nation, and USA Today. She moved to New Orleans in 2021 to pursue a career in sports and became Tulane's sideline reporter that season. She enters her fourth year with the team now covering the program on Sports Illustrated, and will use insights from features and interviews in the live radio broadcast. You can follow her on X at @MaddyHudak_94, or if you have any questions or comments, she can be reached via email at maddy.hudak1@gmail.com