MOBILE, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland addressed to the media at the Senior Bowl's opening press conference on Monday.
Here’s a partial transcript of what he had to say to the media:
Q: What do you want to play at the next level weight wise?
A: I want to play about 250 or 245. I'm getting my weight down now training a little bit. I know I can play at this weight now, but I want to be faster on the field.
Q: Have you talked to any outside linebackers what it takes to do that (play at that position)?
A: No, but I've seen and watched them and I know it takes a lot. You got to be able to jump in the flats and cover those guys so I've observed a lot.
Q: Why do you want to play outside linebacker this week?
A: I just want to show that I can cover and rush the passer. I want to show that I can do multiple things at the next level. I know I can play inside, but I want to be able to show that I can play outside too. If a guy goes down, I want to show I can go out there and play it too and not miss a beat.
Q: You’re only two weeks removed from playing in the national title game, why was it important to play in this game?
A: It's a prestigious game. Coming here talking to you guys, I'm going to be able to help my brain a little more and also getting to play in this game with some of my brothers that I won't probably get to play with in the league. I get a chance to play with some guys I've heard about over the years of playing college football.
Q: Coach (Nick) Saban said after the championship game the defense looked tired against Clemson. After 15 games now, what are you doing to make sure that you and your teammates are refreshed and have their legs so it won’t hurt you for the 16th game?
A: Just making sure that we're getting the treatment that we need, eating the right things and getting rest. That's the most important thing. I know I'm young and we like to stay up all night so it's all about getting rest and getting your legs back under you.
Q: What are some of the things you’ve picked up from him (Nick Saban) that is going to help you over the next week and in the NFL?
A: Coach Saban taught me a lot. He taught me as a player to really pay attention to the detail of things. That's the type of coach he is. When we game plan, he's going to go over every necessary thing we need to do as a team and I'm going to learn a new scheme, so I'm going to go into it with the right mindset and I'm going to try to pay attention to the details of that scheme.
Q: What was it like waiting for those couple of years of not being on the field and playing behind someone?
A: It was rough. You play in middle school, high school and coaches are throwing you out there getting a chance, but Coach Saban taught me about being a man. I was going to wait my turn behind guys like C.J. Mosely, Nico Johnson and Trey DePriest and all those guys and it really made me a better football player and I had to become smarter as a player too. C.J. Mosely is one of the smartest players I've ever played with and if I had a question, I didn't have to go to coaches because I could go straight to him and he broke it down to me the best way that I could understand it.
Q: What do you think off the field you’ve improved on to help you at the next level?
A: Be a student of the game even more. Doing all the things as a kid growing up, you think about going to the College Football awards, being a finalist for the Butkus, Bednarik and Nagurski, but if it weren't for my teammates pushing me and my coaches pushing me to be that leader on the field, I wouldn't be where I'm at now. They knew I was frustrated from not playing and knew once I got my opportunity, I was going to run with it.
Q: Can you give us your scouting report on Kenyan Drake?
A: He's got a quick twitch. Smart guy and he knows when to cut up. He can be fast and physical out on the field. Going up against a player like that, he's made me a better player. Tackling wise, I need to go inside-out and look at his hips because as a linebacker I do something like basketball, he can't go anywhere with his hips. The first couple of years he made me look funny out there, but after a while it made me breakdown and be more patient as a tackler.
(Transcript courtesy of the Senior Bowl’s public relations and digital media staff).
