Frank Ragnow, a 6-foot-6, 283-pound junior lineman from Chanhassen, was the second in-state player to receive a scholarship offer from Minnesota. Gopher Hole recent caught up with Ragnow to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Frank Ragnow, a 6-foot-6, 283-pound junior lineman from Chanhassen, was the second in-state player to receive a scholarship offer from Minnesota. Gopher Hole recent caught up with Ragnow to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: How pleased were you with your junior season for football?
Frank Ragnow: I was pretty happy individually and as a team. We came one play away from state, so that was kind of a disappointment, so I am eager to work hard in the offseason.
Gopher Hole: What are the expectations for next season. I know that you lost some key players, but you also have some important returnees coming back?
Frank Ragnow: We have kids working hard in the weight room, so I think that we will be just fine.
Gopher Hole: What things are you going to be working on after basketball and track and field seasons to continue to improve yourself as a player?
Frank Ragnow: I want to work on footwork a lot and then just lower body strength. I really want to get stronger in the lower body and explosiveness.
Gopher Hole: What would you like to get up to weight-wise for next season?
Frank Ragnow: I want to be around 300 and then I’ll probably lose some weight during the season.
Gopher Hole: Have you heard much from school about Junior Days?
Frank Ragnow: I’ve heard from Minnesota, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Washington, Nebraska and Pittsburgh so far for Junior Days.
Gopher Hole: Which ones do you think that you are going to attend? Obviously, you can’t do all that you would want, but which ones are you going to try to definitely make.
Frank Ragnow: I want to try to make the Minnesota one, for sure. I think Michigan State and Nebraska.
Gopher Hole: What was the feeling when you received your offer from Minnesota?
Frank Ragnow: I was pretty pumped for my first offer and I was surprised and I was pretty pumped.
Gopher Hole: Where you kind of caught off guard or had you heard from your coach that they might be offering?
Frank Ragnow: It was right after the camp that I went to this summer. They brought me into Coach Kill’s room and they offered me.
Gopher Hole: That has to something that makes you proud, but you also want to prove that you are worthy of getting that and hopefully some more offers.
Frank Ragnow: Yes.
Gopher Hole: What things skill-wise are you going to be working on?
Frank Ragnow: I want to work on blocking and space. Being able to pull and then get linebackers.
Frank Ragnow: I want to work on blocking and space. Being able to pull and then get linebackers.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought much about summer camps yet?
Frank Ragnow: Not really. Not yet.
Gopher Hole: Besides the schools that have contacted you for Junior Days, what other schools are you hearing from?
Frank Ragnow: Stanford, UCLA, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Michigan.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to make many college football games this past fall?
Frank Ragnow: I was only able to make Minnesota and Wisconsin. I went to the New Hampshire and Michigan games and the Wisconsin-Minnesota game.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play for the homestate school?
Frank Ragnow: It would be pretty cool. Be a hometown hero.
Gopher Hole: Have you been to many games in the past as a fan?
Frank Ragnow: I’ve been to a few in the past, but I have always been kind of a fan to the Gophers.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that basketball helps in terms of footwork?
Frank Ragnow: Footwork and just using my body the right way.
Gopher Hole: With track you are doing a lot of lifting and strength training. Do you feel that helps you as a football player?
Frank Ragnow: The track coach really works with me on my explosiveness, which I think will help a lot.
Gopher Hole: Have you always been a football player, going back to your younger days?
Frank Ragnow: I started in sixth grade, I think.