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Colts Had Personal Workout with Alabama’s Reggie Ragland

By Luke Schultheis

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, the Indianapolis Colts had a personal workout with University of Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland:

The 6’1″, 247 pound inside linebacker is coming off a star season for the Crimson Tide, recording 97 tackles–including 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 15 starts en route to winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC 1st-team, and 1st-team All-American honors.

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Per NFL.com, Ragland was the 3rd Alabama player to earn unanimous All-American honors joining greats Derrick Thomas, as well as former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Cornelius Bennett.

Currently, Ragland is projected to be a 1st round pick by many draft experts:

"SOURCES TELL US“He’s a throwback linebacker, but he’s going to get drafted in the first (round) because he has rush ability, too.” — Former NFC scouting director"

"NFL COMPARISONE.J. HendersonBOTTOM LINEThumping inside linebacker with throwback size and tone ­setting mentality. Ragland is a confident and capable early starter in league who has the temperament to become one of the premier run­-stopping inside linebackers in the pro game. Ragland has some coverage and speed limitations, but his instincts and overall awareness should be able to mask those issues."

Of course, having lost Jerrell Freeman to the Chicago Bears in free agency, the Colts could ultimately draft his replacement as the team has returning backups Nate Irving, Sio Moore, and a handful of other unproven young players at the position.

With incumbent starter D’Qwell Jackson also set to turn 33 years old in September, the Colts could really use a long-term answer at the position one way or the other.

Ragland is an “old school” inside linebacker, who really hits and could bring a hard-nosed identity, as well as young building block to new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino‘s “attacking” defense:

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