By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK — Frank Ragnow, the Lions’ 2018 first-round draft pick out of Arkansas, hasn’t been in pads since suffering a season-ending ankle injury during his senior season. It’s been a long time since that Week 8 loss to Auburn on October 21 of last year, and the former Razorback is anxious to suit up for Sunday’s practice, which will be the first padded session of training camp.
“I’m very excited,” Ragnow told reporters after the second day of training camp Saturday. “It’s been a while, especially with my injury last year. I haven’t gotten to put the pads on in a while, so I’ve been waiting for this.”
He added: “It’s real football now. You can say what you want, but this isn’t real football until you are putting on the pads and banging around.”
Ragnow, 22, is a versatile offensive lineman who can play both guard and center. And while he played mostly center during his last two seasons at Arkansas, he played at left guard during mini camp and OTAs, while third-year starter Graham Glasgow played at center. And that’s where both players were lined up for the first two days of training camp. It appears that will be the direction the team is heading in for the offensive line, but it’s still very early and nothing has been set in stone just yet.
The rookie was asked if he could be called a left guard.
“You can call me whatever you want,” Ragnow said. “I’m going to go wherever they line me up. I’m sure I’m going to line up all kinds of places. And that’s one thing I try to take value in. Anything I can [do to] help coach Patricia and the team out I’ll do.”
Whether he’s lined up at center or left guard, Ragnow said he’s fine either way.
“I like playing football,” he said. “So, yeah, I like left guard, center, or right guard, but I’ve been lining up at left guard a lot.”
Ragnow is expected to be a starter on an offense that finished last in rushing in 2017. And Lions GM Bob Quinn has made a strong commitment this offseason on improving it by drafting him in the first round, Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson in the second round, signing free agent running back LeGarrette Blount, and hiring offensive line coach Jeff Davidson to replace Ron Prince.
For right now, though, Ragnow is still making the realization that he has fulfilled his dream of playing in the NFL.
“I mean, two days of training camp, for me, has been a dream come true. Practicing in front of fans, I mean, it’s just, my whole life I wanted to be here and now I’m here. It’s kind of crazy.”