Overview
Position: Inside linebacker
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 259 pounds
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.72 seconds
Vertical jump: 31.5 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 8 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.28 seconds
Reggie Ragland 2016 NFL Draft Profile
Much of Alabama’s success under Nick Saban can be attributed to the team’s excellence on the defensive side of the football. Reggie Ragland epitomized that excellence during his junior and senior seasons. As a result, he emerged as one of the SEC’s top defensive players during that time. And heading into this year’s draft, his skill set as a middle linebacker will be among the most highly coveted among players at his position.
Ragland had a fairly quiet first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, but that all changed his junior year. It was then that he finished second on the team with 93 tackles and added 10.5 tackles for loss. During the Crimson Tide’s championship run last season, his 102 tackles led the team and he also had 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He took home consensus All-American honors and was also named SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Strength
- solid build and imposing presence within the linebacking corps.
- patient but not complacent in pursuit around the perimeter.
- solid hand placement and movement gives him an edge against opposing blockers.
- immensely capable stuffing interior gaps on run plays.
- instinctual player with great vision.
- can play in the middle as well as outside as an edge defender.
- lined up as a five-technique defensive end at times.
- comfortable dropping into zone coverage.
- had fewer numbers of missed tackles as a senior than he did the year before.
Weaknesses
- very little wow factor in initial acceleration and overall playing speed.
- needs to work on finesse element of game as opposed to taking blockers head on.
- pursuit angles on perimeter plays could improve.
- can lose leverage when taking on opposing linemen.
- man coverage skills need work.
NFL Comparison: David Harris
Teams with Need at Position: Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers
Projection: middle first round
Bottom Line
Reggie Ragland is about as good as it gets if you’re looking for a dominant, physical inside linebacker in this year’s draft. His ability as a gap disciplined run stopper will be highly sought after. This is especially true considering how few players that are expected to get drafted during the first two days possess his skill set. That said, more than ever linebackers are required to have coverage skills given today’s pass happy offenses. Think of Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers. Not only did he lead the team in tackles, but only 12 other players in the entire league exceeded his four interceptions during the regular season. If Ragland can develop that element of his game, his upside is immeasurable. Expect him to be off the board around the middle of day one.
