Q&A (Part 1): Former Alabama All-American on state of the program, best defense, who he’d seek for help in a fight

Reggie Ragland had a storybook career which began as the No. 1 high school linebacker in the country. He went on to help Alabama capture two national championships (’12, ’15), unanimious All-American (’15) and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year (’15). The former second round draft pick spent eight years in the NFL including with the Kansas City Chiefs where he served as a starter in the Super Bowl in 2020.

Ragland’s final season in the NFL was in 2022, though he has not ‘officially’ retired. He currently resides in Houston where he is finally relaxing after a long journey from active in sports from a young age to playing for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa and several years at the highest professional level. Ragland was excited to answer questions from BOL subscribers this week.

Part l of a three part series with the former Crimson Tide star.

What are you thoughts on the state of the program now compared to where it was when he was in school?

Ragland: “It was different. Coach Saban had been established. We had just won a second national championship. The program was in good hands. It’s a building process now. I know us as Alabama fans are used to the standard that’s been the same for the last 20 years. We are used to it being a certain way. We have to give Coach DeBoer time. He has to get his guys who fit his system. He basically came in during the spring and didn’t have a full year to work with the guys. Now he’s been here for a full year and they have guys who want to be in this system. The 4-2-5 defense still has to grow on me, but hopefully everyone is patient, and gives him (DeBoer) a chance. Coach Saban’s first year wasn’t as good as Coach DeBoer’s.

How well has the new staff engaged and embraced alumni?

Ragland: “They have been very welcoming. Courtney Morgan and I were part of the same agency when I was coming out of college. I met him before the NFL draft. I’ve known Courtney for a while. They actually called me while they were on the PJ (private jet) flying to Tuscaloosa for the first time. The first thing they told me was they wanted to keep up the same standard that we always had. He told me we are always welcomed back and to come show support. I know it was probably a culture shock. Courtney was doing the same things at Michigan. The Big 10 is cool, but it’s nothing like the South. You realize it in Tuscaloosa, but then you go to a road game at Tennessee or LSU. They understand it now.

Do you think your teams would have had the same amount of success if NIL was around back then?

Ragland: I’ll say no. All the top guys were going where they were going to have the opportunity to get drafted. Everyone was going to Bama, Oregon, Georgia, Ohio State. Now guys are going everywhere. SMU has a shot now to land a top recruit, but it’s still certain programs who will have a better shot to win the championship. I love that it’s a tournament (playoff), but at the end of the day it still showed that certain teams shouldn’t have been in it. They just don’t have enough talent to compete with the schools who can sign a lot of top players rather than just a few. More of the guys who came to Bama would have been spread out.”

Favorite CNS (Nick Saban) story?

Ragland: “The time I realized I was soft as hell in his (Saban) eyes. We were in team (practice) during my sophomore year. I felt like I had made a play. I’m running off the field and felt like everyone was looking at me. I then hear, ‘Reggie, you’re as soft as baby shit.’ I was like what? I decided I was coming down hill every down moving forward. I had never been called soft a day in my life. I guess it made me flip a switch and I didn’t get called soft again.”

If you were in bar fight and could only pick three former Alabama teammates to back you up, who would it be?

Ragland: For sure- Reuben Foster, Jarran Reed and Xzavier Dickson. Some might ask about X, but I’ve seen him fight in-person. I’ve seen what he can do (laughter).

What kind of money would you have expected if NIL was around when you went through the recruiting process?

Ragland: “Straight-up all I really cared about was playing football. I wouldn’t have been too concerned about NIL. I say that now, but I was also the No. 1 linebacker in the country back then. I probably would have expected something. I really would have just made sure my parents were good and that they would have had enough to pay their bills and been able to eat. I know I would have been taken care of, but as long as they were good I wouldn’t have really cared about a crazy amount of money.”

Better defense in 2015 with you or in 2016?

Ragland: I’m going to go with the one I played with, but that ’16 group was juiced. You had guys like Ronnie Harrison and Minkah (Fitzpatrick) who were sophomores in my last year. Ryan Williams and Tim Williams. Two of the best pass rushers ever at Alabama. All those guys were a year older in ’16. Tim was special. Never seen anyone who didn’t play on first or second down and would go in on third down and have a sack or get to the quarterback on 30-percent of the time he was in the game.”

What 3 points of advice would you give to your younger self coming out of high school starting your college football career?

Ragland: Learn patience, pay attention and control what you can control. 

Part ll will include responses from Ragland on the most talented teammate he ever played with at Alabama, the best running back he went against during practice and which player he’d never let date his sister.

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