.png) Ragland in 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 59, 55, 19 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1993-09-23)September 23, 1993 (age 32) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 252 lb (114 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Bob Jones(Madison, Alabama) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Alabama (2012–2015) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: 2nd round, 41st overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Reggie Keith Ragland Jr. (born September 23, 1993) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide, winning two national championships. He was then selected by theBuffalo Bills in the second round of the2016 NFL draft. In 2016, he missed his rookie season after being placed oninjured reserve with atorn ACL. During the 2017 season, he was traded to theKansas City Chiefs for a fourth round pick in the 2019 draft. On January 6, 2018, Ragland started his first career playoff game, registering nine tackles during the team's 22–21 loss to theTennessee Titans. Two years later he won his firstSuper Bowl, recording two tackles when the Chiefs defeated theSan Francisco 49ers.
A native ofHuntsville, Alabama, Ragland started his high school career as an 8th grader, playing football at Grissom High School. Ragland's family relocated toMadison, Alabama, Ragland attendedBob Jones High School, where he was a varsity player in both football andbasketball.[1] As asophomore, he playedsmall forward on a basketball team that upset No. 1Homewood to win the 2009–2010AHSAA Class 6A Championship, withLevi Randolph being named MVP.[2] Meanwhile, on the football field Ragland had 40receptions as atight end and sixtouchdowns. Mostly playing defense as ajunior, he recorded 91tackles in 2010 with 21tackles-for-loss. Bob Jones went 8–4 over the season, losing 21–28 toClay-Chalkville in the first round of the 6A playoffs.[3] In hissenior season, Ragland was credited with 97 tackles with 22 tackles-for-loss and sixsacks. The Patriots allowed only 13 points per game and were 10–2 on the season, losing to the eventual 6A state runner-upHoover in the second round of the playoffs. Ragland was also on the Patriotstrack & field team, where he competed in thediscus throw[4] and theshot put.[5]
Regarded as a four-star recruit byRivals.com, Ragland was listed as the No. 1inside linebacker prospect in his class.[6] Shortly after his junior season, he committed to Alabama overAuburn,Florida, andTennessee.[7]
As atrue freshman onAlabama's 2012 championship team, Ragland played in 10 games, primarily onspecial teams, and was credited with eight tackles, include five solo stops, and a forcedfumble. In his sophomore season, he appeared in 13 games, and compiled 17 tackles on the season as a back-up toC. J. Mosley. Both he andReuben Foster were the leading candidates to replace Mosley at the “Will” linebacker spot in Alabama's3–4 defense.[8] Ragland eventually won out over Foster, starting all but one game for the Crimson Tide in 2014. He recorded 95 tackles on the season, which ranked second on the team behind onlyLandon Collins. Ragland also had 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a team-high three fumble recoveries. He was namedSoutheastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high 13 tackles againstLouisiana State.[9]
| Year | GP | TSolo | TAsst | TOT | TFL | TFLYDS | SCK | INT | INTYDS | TD | FF | FR | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 14 | 46 | 47 | 93 | 10.5 | 27 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 27 | 52 | 58 | 110 | 9.0 | 28 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
On January 21, 2016, it was announced that Ragland had accepted his invitation to play in the2016 Senior Bowl.[10] He impressed many scouts and analysts and was named one of the top performers during Senior Bowl practices.[11][12] On January 26, 2016, he playedoutside linebacker forJacksonville Jaguars head coachGus Bradley's South team that defeated the North 27–16. He was one of 38 collegiate linebackers that attended theNFL Scouting Combine inIndianapolis, Indiana. He completed the majority of drills, finishing fifth in theshort shuttle and 14th in the40-yard dash.[13][14][15][16] Prior to the draft, however, medical exams revealed Ragland having an enlargedaorta. Although reports stated this would not affect his football career, several teams had lowered Ragland on their draft boards as a result.[17] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Ragland was projected to be a first round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the top inside linebacker prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com, the second best linebacker by NFL analystMike Mayock, and was ranked the third best linebacker in the draft bySports Illustrated and NFL analystCharles Davis.[18][19][20][21]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+1⁄4 in (1.86 m) | 247 lb (112 kg) | 32 in (0.81 m) | 9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) | 6 ft5+3⁄4 in (1.97 m) | 4.72 s | 1.65 s | 2.75 s | 4.28 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) | ||
| All values fromNFL Combine[22][23] | ||||||||||||
TheBuffalo Bills selected Ragland in the second round (41st overall) of the2016 NFL draft.[24] The Bills traded their second round pick (49th overall), a fourth round pick (117th overall), and their fourth round pick in the2017 NFL draft to theChicago Bears for the 41st overall pick to draft him.[25]
On May 24, 2016, the Bills signed Ragland to a four-year, $5.84 million contract that includes $3.16 million guaranteed and asigning bonus of $2.44 million.[26] Ragland andPreston Brown enteredtraining camp slated as the starting inside linebackers for the Bills.[27] On August 5, 2016, Ragland suffered an injury to the left knee during training camp.[28]
On August 30, 2016, Ragland was officially placed oninjured reserve after it was discovered to be atorn ACL. He missed the entire rookie season due to the injury.[29]
Ragland entered training camp and competed against Preston Brown for the starting middle linebacker role in new defensive coordinatorLeslie Frazier's4–3 defense. On August 8, 2017, Ragland was demoted to the third team defense behind Brown andTanner Vallejo.[30][31]
On August 28, 2017, Ragland was traded to theKansas City Chiefs for a fourth round draft pick in the2019 NFL draft. The Bills had placed Ragland on the trade block for the majority of the summer as it was believed that he would not be an ideal fit for Bills' head coachSean McDermott's base 4–3 defense. He was one of multiple players traded by the Bills after the arrival of new executives.[32]
Head coachAndy Reid named Ragland the backup inside linebacker behindRamik Wilson to start the regular season.[33] Ragland was inactive for the first three games while he became familiar with the defense. On October 2, 2017, Ragland made his NFL debut and first career start in a 29–20 victory against theWashington Redskins. He made his first career tackle with teammateFrank Zombo, as they both tackledRobert Kelley to stop a three-yard run.[34] Head coach Andy Reid stated that Ragland was started over a healthy Ramik Wilson so they could see what he had to offer.[35] He remained the starting inside linebacker, oppositeDerrick Johnson, for the remainder of the season. On November 19, 2017, Ragland made a season-high nine combined tackles in a 12–9 loss at theNew York Giants. The following week, he tied his season-high of nine combined tackles during a 16–10 loss against his former team, the Bills. Ragland was a healthy scratch for the Chiefs' Week 17 matchup at theDenver Broncos and finished the2017 season with 44 combined tackles (31 solo) in 12 games and ten starts.[36]
The Chiefs finished the 2017 season atop theAmerican Football Conference (AFC) West with a 10–6 record and received a playoff berth. On January 6, 2018, Ragland started his first career playoff game and collected nine combined tackles in a 22–21 loss to theTennessee Titans.
In 2018, Ragland played in 16 games with 15 starts, finishing second on the team with 86 combined tackles, a half sack, and an interception.
In week 7 of the 2019 season against theDenver Broncos, Ragland recorded a sack onJoe Flacco and recovered a fumble forced on Flacco by teammateAnthony Hitchens and returned it for a touchdown in the 30–6 win.[37] Ragland helped the Chiefs winSuper Bowl LIV against theSan Francisco 49ers 31–20. Ragland recorded 2 tackles in the game.
On April 7, 2020, Ragland signed with theDetroit Lions.[38] He played in 16 games with six starts, recording 52 tackles, one sack, a pass deflection and a forced fumble.
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On March 20, 2021, Ragland signed a one-year contract with theNew York Giants.[39] He played in all 17 games with nine starts, recording 67 tackles and two pass deflections.
On November 10, 2022, theLas Vegas Raiders signed Ragland to theirpractice squad.[40]
On December 7, 2022, Ragland was signed off theRaiders practice squad by theCleveland Browns.[41]
