Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Frank Ragnow is likely going to be one of the best centers available in the 2018 NFL draft. What does his scouting report reveal about his ability?

Position:  C

School:  Arkansas

Year:  Senior

Height:  6’5″

Weight:  317

History:

Ragnow grew up in Minnesota where he rose to prominence as one of the best football players in the state. He ranked #3 when he declared for college that he would be attending Arkansas. He got his first action at guard for the Razorbacks where he was a big part of them allowing the fewest sacks in the SEC. A year later he was moved to center and has extended his streak of 33-straight games started.

STRENGTHS:

• Boasts good size for the position of center, having both length and weight to hold his ground against big defensive linemen.
• Limited history of health issues. Has made it through most of his college career without any major injuries.
• Demonstrates above-average athleticism. This especially shows up on plays where he’s asked to pull out and move in space.

This play is a perfect illustration. It’s a run to the right side. On the snap Ragnow pulls out and gets the around the end just as the running back is getting the hand-off. He’s out in front and searching for the first person to block, expecting the runner to be behind him. Then he finds his target, delivers a strong block and the back follows him to the first down marker. That is textbook.

• Does a good job of using his feet to get the defensive lineman turned going in whichever direction needed to open a running lane. Shows sharp fundamentals.
• Sells fakes on screens well, then gets into space right on time to get the needed block at the second level.
• Sturdy in pass protection. He makes full use of his arms and shows the quick feet and strong base to where he’s almost never pushed backwards.
• Zero snapping issues. Whether it’s under center or shotgun he has never had a significant botch when snapping the ball.

WEAKNESSES:

• Can be prone to leaning a bit, allowing more crafty defenders to beat him with rips, swims or stunts. Needs to maintain discipline.
• This also shows up when opponent bring creative blitzes. At times he fails to identify a late rusher, allowing a free run at the quarterback.
• His game is centered around athleticism and movement. Power is not really his element. When tasked with trying to force open lanes with pure strength, he’s somewhat average.
• The same goes for his pass protection. He can handle bigger defensive lineman but he tends to get rocked back considerably when faced with a powerful bull rush.
• Has an annoying tendency to stop churning his feet at times when run blocking. This leads to lost momentum and allows defender to recover.

Pro Comparison:  Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles)

Kelce’s game is predicated on his standout athletic traits. He moves so well in space and demonstrates an ability to reach the second level for big blocks. He’s also rock solid in pass protection. The big drawback is his lagging power base. The great thing here is Ragnow is bigger than Kelce and still able to move similarly. If he can add more strength he’ll be quite a force on the inside when he arrives in the NFL.

Projection:  2nd to 3rd rounds

By the look of things Ragnow will end up being a good football player in the NFL. He’s got size, athleticism and loads of experience going for him. He’s a sturdy and dependable blocker who can start for any team for a long time. He’s just not quite dominant enough to crack the 1st round. This is not to say he can’t be a star, but he’s not showing that. At least not so far.