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Washington Redskins 2016 Draft Profiles: Reggie Ragland, ILB

Hogs Haven takes a look at 2016 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Redskins.

By Anthony R Brown II
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Ragland, Inside Linebacker

School: Alabama | Conference: SEC

College Experience: Senior | Age: 22

Height/Weight: 6-2 / 262 lbs

Projected Draft Status: Mid 1st Round

NFL Comparison: C.J. Moseley

College Statistics

Player Overview

Ragland was a four-star recruit coming out of Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama and ranked the fourth best player in Alabama and the best Inside Linebacker. He received scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky and Wake Forest. In his his junior year (2014), he won the starting job at weak-side linebacker, replacing C.J. Mosley and was selected as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's best linebacker. He also was a first team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press. He started his first career game against West Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and had 13 starts on the season while playing in all 14 games.

As a senior (2014), he became the heartbeat of the Crimson Tide’s powerful defense and a college football national champion. He was a unanimous first team All-American selection, named to the All-SEC First Team by both the conference coaches and the Associated Press, selected as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, became a Dick Butkus Award finalist, a Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy finalist and a Lombardi Award semifinalist.  He will be participating in the 2016 Senior Bowl which can be seen on NFL Network Saturday January 30 at 2:30 p.m.

According to Michael Casagrande, writer for the Alabama Media Group (Al.com), he had some sound advice for his teammates and his successor Reuben Foster.

Speaking about staying an extra year, "If you feel like you need to go back, go back and get your stock up because it helped me out a lot," Ragland said.

"Reuben Foster is going to be Reuben Foster," Ragland said. "I don't want nobody trying to be me or any of the past guys. I want them to come in and make their own name, make their own style because I knew I had to step in when it was my time to play and I know those guys will step up. I know Reuben is going to lead that team."

Ragland's Strengths

  • He is a sure tackler. When he tacklers an offensive player in the open field, he wraps them up and leaves no chance of a broken tackle
  • He’s doesn’t get lost dropping back in pass coverage. His ability to find the ball and make a tackle is exceptional
  • He shows an ability to recover, find the ball carrier and make a tackle after being blocked.
  • When he pressures, coming off the outside, he shows his speed and quickness and gets to the quarterback with ease

Ragland's Weaknesses

  • He sometimes struggles in running the game when trying to get off blocks and gets taken out of plays.
  • On some plays that I did see, he seemed hesitant to charge the offensive player trying to block him. Not sure if he was trying to let the play develop or not.

What Twitter Says

How He Would Fit on the Redskins

The Redskins have the 21st pick in the 2016 NFL Draft so there's a possibility that Ragland could fall to the team as he is projected to go 17th overall to the Atlanta Falcons in Daniel Jaremiah's first mock draft. The Redskins have depth at middle linebacker but with roster changes in the offseason likely coming, Ragland could fit in there, should he fall in their hands.

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