Reggie Ragland – Alabama Crimson Tide

Position: Inside Linebacker

Height: 6’1’’

Weight: 247

Year: Senior

Hometown: Madison, AL

Experience: Sr. – 2 year starter

Measurables:

40 yard: 4.72

Broad jump: 116 inches

Vertical: 31.5 inches

3-cone: ---

20yd. Shuttle: 4.28 seconds

Bench Press: ---

Career Notes:

Ragland was one of the top senior linebackers in the country in 2015 and a defensive team captain for Alabama as a two-year starter. He led the Crimson Tide in tackles as a senior with 102, including 6.5 tackles for loss, and finished second on the team his junior year with 93 stops.

Playing on one of the top defensive front sevens in the FBS, Ragland spent time at inside, will, and strongside linebacker, and even took snaps at right defensive end as a pass rusher on third downs, showcasing his versatility. Ragland earned ALL-SEC First Team honors and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2015.

The Alabama native is considered one of the top inside linebackers of the 2016 draft class and a likely first-round pick by a majority of draft analysts. A good Senior Bowl performance and solid combine numbers would surely solidify a first-round grade this spring.

Injury Report:

Ragland played through a broken hand against LSU his senior season, but he hasn’t missed a game since becoming a starter in 2014.

Career Stats:

Analysis:

Against the Run: 5.0/5.0

Ragland’s a stout, explosive linebacker with a quick first step and nose for the ball. He reads and reacts to run progressions as well as any prospect in the class. His surprising quickness allows him to slice through the line and meet the back behind or near the line of scrimmage. He can stack and shed blocks, using strong hands and a solid base to rip or swat linemen away. This gives him an advantage over some of the smaller, athletic linebackers in the draft class.

He also does a nice job squaring his body in the hole once free and wrestling ball carriers down—rarely giving ground to even the strongest halfbacks. He demonstrates solid tackling technique upon contact, while never shying away from an opportunity to lower his shoulder and deliver a big hit. His “take-no prisoners” approach to the game of football is a welcomed site for any defense looking for a physical presence in the middle of their defense.

Pass Rush: 4.0/5.0

Ragland frequently moved to defensive end as a situational pass rusher on third downs in Alabama’s defense. This is a rare ability for an inside linebacker, which really showcases his versatility and complete skillset as an athlete. However, Ragland was only semi-successful rushing the passer. He only recorded four sacks and seven quarterback pressures in his two years as a starter.

He doesn’t possess the ideal length or have the array of pass rush moves to be really effective in this role. He primarily relied on his power and bull rushing his opponent, which was only effective part of the time. He does not possess the skillset to make a move to outside linebacker or defensive end in the NFL, as some have suggested. His home is at inside or strongside linebacker. Having said this, he can still be effective when blitzing occasionally.

Coverage: 3.5/5.0

While Ragland is not terrible in coverage by any means, this still remains the aspect of his game that needs the most improvement. Even though he demonstrates good short-area burst, his long speed is only adequate and could hinder him in coverage at the next level. He may struggle in man coverage locked on an athletic tight end or a shifty halfback. Occasionally on film you’ll seem him a step late picking up the back in the flat or give ground to a tight end running down the seam. This could be an aspect of his game opposing quarterbacks expose at the next level.

His height may also hinder him covering tight ends downfield, especially in jump ball situations. Having said this, Ragland is decent dropping in zone coverage. He has a good feel for the ball and will close in on receivers passing in area. He recorded 10 pass deflections in his two years as a starter, demonstrating good ball skills.

Agility: 4.0/5.0

His short-area speed and lateral movement are very good—an in my opinion, underrated—especially for a 250-pound linebacker. This allows him to chase down ball carriers outside the tackle box and make plays in pursuit, while also being able to drop in coverage and move fluidly in space to pick up checkdowns or intermediate routes in his vicinity. However, Ragland is not an elite athlete at the position, like Myles Jack or Darron Lee. This could cause him to drop a bit in the draft.

Overall, he still moves very fluidly in space, sinking his hips when dropping or backpedaling, and maintains a good bend when moving laterally. People may look at his size and physical playing style and label him just a “thumper,” but he’s more athletic than people give him credit for.

Impact Play Ability: 4.5/5.0

Ragland made plenty of impact plays on the field while at Alabama, specifically against the run. He set the tone for the most physical front seven in college football, delivering knockout blows and coming up with big stops between the tackles. He also has the instincts to make a lot of plays in pursuit and run down ball carriers sideline-to-sideline. On third downs, he can create pressure rushing off the edge as a situational pass rusher.

Summary: Ragland is a complete three-down linebacker at the next level. His ability to hold his own in coverage or rush the passer either off the edge or as an A-gap blitzer, makes him an unique player at his position. However, his ability against the run remains the best part of his game. He’s a hard-nosed throwback linebacker, but he still possesses enough athleticism to hold up in all phases of the game at the next level. I would expect him to go somewhere in the mid first round.

Overall Grade: 4.20/5.0

If drafted by the Packers:

Ragland is the complete three-down inside linebacker the Packers defense has needed since Desmond Bishop’s departure. Clay Matthews has given Green Bay a temporary solution at the position the past two seasons, but the Packers need a long-term fix. Ragland would provide that. 

He’s a stout run-defender and would bring a physical presence to the Packers’ front seven to pair with either Jake Ryan or Sam Barrington on the inside. His ability to take on blocks and be physical at the line of scrimmage would be a nice complement to Ryan and Barrington’s ability to run and make plays in pursuit.

Ragland’s ability to drop in coverage and rush the passer would also give Green Bay an additional defensive weapon for Dom Capers and company to utilize in their fire zone scheme. Ragland can generate pressure off the edge or through the A-gap, which would allow even more creativity when dialing up pressure. The fact the Packers wouldn’t have to take Ragland off the field on third downs either also makes him a valuable player worthy of a late-first round selection.

Overall, Ragland’s a likely day-one starter as a rookie, and he would allow Matthews to move back to outside linebacker, his most effective position, and return to rushing the passer full-time once again.

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