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Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

By Eric Robinson

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Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s widely known that Alabama head coach Nick Saban is churning out NFL talent left and right. Names like Julio Jones, Dont’a Hightower, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Amari Cooper are just a few names to don the crimson and white and entertain a stadium full of loyalists every Saturday. The upcoming 2016 NFL Draft has another elite prospect on the forefront from Tuscaloosa. His name? Ragland. Reggie Ragland. Let’s take a look at the talented linebacker and what makes him so elite.

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Height: 6’2

Weight: 252 lbs

Strengths: At 6’2 252 pounds, Ragland is already bigger than the better LBs in the NFL (Kuechly, Mosley, Bowman)….Shows ability to identify open hole and fill to meet the ball carrier….A brick wall, lays out whoever is in his path….Able to scrape, avoid low blocks, and tackle ball carriers….Engages & disengages blockers very effectively……Instincts are top-notch and very reliable….Occasionally utilized on third down as a pass rusher….Often squares up when making tackles, never caught off guard…..Reads screens and times his disruption perfectly….Provides great effort to get sideline to sideline…..Junior and senior season stat line almost identical: 93 tkls, 10.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, one INT, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles as a junior/97 tkls, 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, seven pass deflections.

“His name? Ragland. Reggie Ragland”

Weaknesses: When in coverage, you can’t help but notice he’s has stiff hips….Tends to show a lack of discipline and not fully wrap up, which allows extra yards to ball carriers….When rushing the passer, needs to utilize his hand technique, relies too much on bull rushing…..Over-pursues on swift, cut-back ball carriers…..Not elite of an athlete such as Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith….slow off the ball when pass rushing on third downs.

Bottom line: Ragland is considered a first round linebacker for a reason. He’s already at the NFL level in terms of size, football IQ and instincts. Ragland can play in either the 3-4 or 4-3 but as of now, Ragland is better suited for the 3-4 based on being a slight liability in pass coverage. It’s not hard to identify that Ragland was arguably the best player on defense for Alabama. There is absolutely no way he drops out of the 10th-20th range in the NFL draft. Whoever selects the stud linebacker, will have a consistent All-Pro on their hands.

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