2018 NFL draft news

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Arkansas senior C Frank Ragnow (ankle) received an invite to the 2018 Senior Bowl.

Ragnow (6'3/317) hasn't played for the Razorbacks since October 16 with a high-ankle sprain, but he should be healthy enough to play in the game and go through the practices. He's considered one of the best centers in the country, and a strong showing that shows he's healthy could see the Razorback offensive lineman selected in the first three rounds.

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Arkansas senior QB Austin Allen accepted an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Allen dealt with a bothersome shoulder injury for about a month this season and finished the year with 1,427 passing yards (56.1% completions) with a 10/5 TD/INT ratio across eight games played. Even taking the injury concern into account, it was a disappointing season for the senior after he put up 3,430 passing yards (61.1% completions) with a 25/15 TD/INT ratio in 2016. We do not expect him to see much draft interest come the spring.

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Arkansas QB Austin Allen completed 6-of-9 passes for 75 yards in helping the National to a win over the American 23-0 on Saturday in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Allen was the most effective quarterback on the National side, which isn't saying a whole lot, if we're being honest. Still, the former Razorback signal-caller did make a couple of nice throws and helped lead his squad to victory. Injury concerns and disappointing results when he was healthy likely have Allen as an UDFA come draft time, barring a huge showing in his pro day.





Arkansas RB David Williams ran for 28 yards on six carries for the National squad in a 23-0 victory over the American Team on Saturday in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

The National team was able to muster just 59 yards on 28 carries, and outside of a ten-yard scamper by Williams, the run game was completely shut down. If it sounds like we're saying Williams was the best of a bad situation, it's because we kind of are. When healthy he's shown bursts of brilliance, but the 6-foot-1, 229-pound tailback hasn't been on the field enough at this point to see them. He's going to have to really impress going forward to get on draft radars.

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Pro Football Focus's Analysis Team rates Arkansas C Frank Ragnow was one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the class.

Ragnow missed significant time after going down with an ankle injury, but prior to that was rated one of the best centers in the country; finishing with a run grade that ranked only below Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson. "Ragnow is nearly 6-foot-5 and weighs 307 pounds and he has 33 2/8-inch arms so he doesn’t have any physical limitations that would force him into just one offensive line position," they write. "Ragnow mostly played center the last two seasons but has played 15 career games at right guard as well and performed admirably." He currently projects as a Day 2 selection.

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An NFC area scout who viewed Arkansas QB Austin Allen as a potential NFL backup following the 2016 season told NFL Media's Lance Zierlein that he "[doesn't] see it now."

"Allen has shown good command of the Razorbacks play-action attack at times," Zierlein writes, "but he's never been overly accurate and his field vision has let him down too many times." The analyst runs through a litany of demerits in the 6-foot-1, 209-pound signal-caller's game, among them the fact that he missed four games with a shoulder injury in 2017 and did not appear to regain his velocity after returning to action, the fact that he's struggled in his red zone processing (and processing in general) and the fact that he has shown major issues in his ability to diagnose defenses. We don't expect him to be drafted in the spring, an opinion shared by Zierlein.

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NFL Media's Lance Zierlein compares Arkansas C Frank Ragnow to Houston Texans OL Nick Martin.

Ragnow was on his way to becoming a potential day one selection before a high ankle sprain forced him to miss most of the year and also the NFL Scouting Combine. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound center is athletic enough to get to the second level and also has the pop and footwork to be a quality blocker both in the run and pass game. The injury is an obvious question mark, and his pad level isn't always consistent according to Zierlein. Ragnow likely goes on Day 2, and a team looking for a plug-and-play center could draft him in the second round.

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Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline believes that three centers will be drafted by the middle of the second-round.

Pauline expects Iowa C James Daniels and Ohio State's Billy Price will go in the first round, and that while Price came in with the highest helium, Daniels could go first because of Price's pectoral issues. Pauline also hears that Arkansas C Frank Ragnow will go in the middle of the second round, and that the New England Patriots could be interested in him. Centers often go lower in the draft because of presumed positional value, but they've made a comeback over the last few years, and this appears to be a strong class.

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CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora "continues to hear" Arkansas OL Frank Ragnow is the top center in the draft.

Ragnow (6'5/309) is a late riser after sitting out the Combine. It's hard to see him drafted ahead of Ohio State's Billy Price, but Ragnow, Price, and Iowa's James Daniels could all be first-round picks. The Bengals, Patriots, and Vikings have been linked to Ragnow.

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Bielema works for Pats now. Bet he lands there 2nd round

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Lions selected Arkansas G/C Frank Ragnow with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Ragnow (6’5/312) made 33 starts for the Razorbacks before suffering a high ankle sprain severe enough to end his season last October, still earning third-team All-American and allowing zero career sacks. After converting from right guard to center, Ragnow earned PFF College’s highest 2017 center grade in the nation despite missing time. Ragnow won with toughness and consistency in the SEC and is an exceptional size-adjusted athlete with sub-five-second speed (4.99) and a 33 ½-inch vertical. Ragnow has a chance to be a long-term solution at guard or center. Ragnow should start over Kenny Wiggins at guard in Detroit but may also compete for the center gig with Graham Glasgow.

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This is pretty cool.