Ragland’s stock keeps rising

Reggie Ragland in action against Arkansas (Photo courtesy of Kent Gidley ALabama Athletics Dept.)

TUSCALOOSA- Just when you thought Reggie Ragland had played his best football he comes up with a game like Saturday night against Arkansas. Ragland made key plays throughout the game, a 27-14 Alabama win.

In the third quarter with Alabama trailing 7-3 Arkansas was moving. On third and nine, quarterback Brandon Allen scrambled but Ragland chased him down and knocked him to the ground dislodging the football which rolled out of bounds. Officials placed the ball back at the spot of the fumble and Arkansas ended up punting. Alabama struck for 14 quick points to put the game away.

Alabama stands 5-1 and has bounced back from a 43-37 lost to Ole Miss.

Ragland garnered national attention for his play against Georgia the next week.

He appeared on numerous sports TV shows.

“When we lost, me and my teammates got together and decided we can’t worry about what the outside is saying. When we stay together and bond we will be hard to beat. It’s all about the players, coaches and everybody working inside the Alabama facilities,” Ragland said in an interview on the Paul Finebaum show last week.

“Coach Saban told us everybody had written us off but when we execute the coaches plan we will be tough to beat. He is all about trying to keep us focused on the task at hand and pump us up, he’s not into all the hooting and hollering. It’s all about the mindset. Focus on your opponent and everybody have a common goal,” Ragland said.

Ragland is on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award that goes to the College Defensive Player of the Year and the Butkus Award which goes to the nations top linebacker. He also is on the list for the Lombardi Award for the top interior lineman and includes linebackers who set up no farther that 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Against Arkansas Ragland led the team with 7 solo tackles, one sack for -9 yards, and one tackle for loss of -3 yards.

He played one of his best games ever according to Coach Nick Saban.

“Anytime Coach Saban says it I guess its true. I am my biggest critic. There is some things I have to work on,” Ragland said.

Saban was asked about Ragland at his press conference.

“Reggie is having a very good year, he had a great year for us last year,” Saban said. “He does everything we ask him to do, sets a tremendous example for his teammates, has been a very good leader and his stability on the field has been very beneficial to our football team.”

Linebacker Ragland is the leader of an Alabama defense that is allowing only 77 yards rushing per week (#4 nationally) and 187 yards passing.