Ragland making move to OLB for Senior Bowl
MOBILE | Reggie Ragland made a million-dollar decision when he opted to return for his senior season at linebacker for the University of Alabama football team.
It was a wise choice.
Ragland is widely projected as a first-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft behind a stellar season in which he earned All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Now he wants more.
Ragland is seen as one of the top inside linebackers in the country, but the big-bodied athlete wants to prove to NFL teams that he can also player outside linebacker, too, that he can rush the passer. He’ll work at outside linebacker during this week’s Senior Bowl.
It’s not totally new to him. He played with a hand down as a defensive end some during the season and also rushed the passer on occasion.
“I just want to show I can cover and rush the passer,” Ragland said Monday afternoon during the first day of the Senior Bowl. “I know I can play inside, but I also want to show I can play outside too.”
Ragland is a little heavier than what he wants to play at in the NFL, saying he currently weighs at 255 pounds and ideally wants to be 245-250 pounds. His official weight will come this morning at the weigh-in.
His 102 tackles, including 60 solo stops, led the defense. He hopes to continue leading, a skill set he learned from former UA All-American linebacker C.J. Mosley.
“C.J. showed me the ropes,” Ragland said. “He showed me the way.”
He’s only been in Mobile for a day, but he has already met with a few NFL teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders.
Playing at Alabama under head coach Nick Saban, Ragland said he’s used to a professional organization.
“Everything we do is NFL style,” Ragland said. “Meetings, you have to pay attention. Every little thing possible, (Saban) knows about everything that is going on in his program. He doesn’t take a day off.”
It was Ragland and his agent’s idea to work at outside linebacker during the Senior Bowl.
“He called me a week or so ago and said, ‘Mr. Savage, I want to play outside ‘backer so I can show that I can rush.’” Executive Director of the Senior Bowl Phil Savage said. “He’s figured out, as his agents know, that the outside ‘backers get paid more than the inside ‘backers.”
Savage, who served as general manager of the Cleveland Browns from 2005-08, said Ragland was a legend in the state of Alabama before he reached high school.
“The first time I ever heard of Reggie Ragland he was in the eighth grade. A buddy of mine said, ‘There’s this kid up here who’s hitting 400-foot home runs, he can dunk a basketball. This guy’s going to be a superstar.’
“So then Reggie Ragland signs at Alabama and for two years all we saw him do is play on the punt team and cover kicks. He finally got his chance to start a year ago, played well, but played better this year.
“So him going back for another year was a real positive. Reggie has the size of a Mike but the speed of a Will. He’s a good combination linebacker that’s playing off the line of scrimmage, can key and diagnosis and take off and get to the perimeter and make plays.”
According to cbssports.com's draft projection, Ragland is seen as a mid-first-round selection and the top inside linebacker in the draft.
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.