Ragnow recently visited Minnesota and Florida State and is considering several possible visits in January.
Frank Ragnow, a 6-6, 300-pound senior tackle/defensive end from Chanhassen, is the top available Minnesota player. He recently visited Minnesota and Florida State and is considering several possible visits in January. Gopher Hole caught up with Ragnow after Chanhassen’s 71-59 basketball loss to Eden Prairie Friday to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You were down at Florida State and Minnesota recently. What were those two visits like?
Frank Ragnow: Minnesota was a lot of fun. I have seen everything at Minnesota. I have been there double digit times, but I haven’t really had a chance to spend time with the players, so it was really nice to hang out with Maxx Williams, Mitch Leidner and some other guys. They are good guys and that really helped Minnesota because it is your team that you are going to be hanging out with the most. As much as your coaches are there, it is your teammates that you are going to be playing with.
Gopher Hole: How about Florida State?
Frank Ragnow: Florida State. It was fun. I mean it’s Florida State. They are a national championship team. Coach Fischer was gone. He was in New York, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him, but it was good to send some time with the players. It was good to get a weekend away. I was alone, so it was good to see what it is like to get a weekend alone. It didn’t really bother me, so that is good. It was just a good time.
Gopher Hole: Florida State is usually good, but this year, they are really, really good. Does that make it even nicer to be recruited by a team that is playing for the national championship?
Frank Ragnow: Yes. You wake up every day and like “Wow. The number one team in the country wants me to play football for them.” It is the most humbling thing ever. It helps them a lot. They are not just good now. They have got recruits coming and they are young, too. They are going to be good for awhile.
Gopher Hole: They just got a couple of offensive lineman commitments. Do you follow who commits to where?
Frank Ragnow: You got to. You have got to follow that. I have been talking to them. They have let me know that no matter how many more commits, that they are taking me aside and they have an offer for me no matter what, which is really awesome thing to have so I can take my time, look at all my schools, but you have to look at that. They are bringing in a lot of guys this year, but it is an opportunity to compete.
Gopher Hole: What other visits do you have planned for January once the quiet period is over?
Frank Ragnow: I’ve got nothing really set right now, but I have Wisconsin, Ohio State, Miami and Ole Miss. Those four are trying to get the last two visits. I think that Wisconsin will get one and we’ll see about the other one.
Gopher Hole: Do you have a date for the Wisconsin one yet?
Frank Ragnow: Nothing set right now.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about when you are going to try to decide on a school. The signing date is in early February. Are you hoping to do it before then or would you do it that day?
Frank Ragnow: It might have to be that day, but hopefully before that. It depends on when I get my visits in and when I am ready. I don’t really know yet, so when I am feeling it, I am ready to go.
Gopher Hole: Have you heard anything more about playing in one of the All-Star Games?
Frank Ragnow: I am going to play basketball. I just decided to play basketball.
Gopher Hole: Was that a hard decision?
Frank Ragnow: No. It is cool to be nominated and everything. It is a humbling thing, but I would rather spend my time with my teammates. I have to leave right away in June to go play football, so I want to spend as much time as I can with my high school.
Gopher Hole: I know that you have been going through the recruiting process for awhile. Do you still like it or are you looking forward to making that announcement?
Frank Ragnow: I can’t wait to decide. It gets a little irritating because it is all you are talking about a lot and I love football, but sometimes I just want to relax, but it is still the coolest thing in the world. I have got coaches like Urban Meyer, Brad Bielema, Jerry Kill, Jimbo Fischer, wanting to talk to me, so it is the most humbling experience ever.
Gopher Hole: What about the reporter-side of it. Do you get tired of people calling you?
Frank Ragnow: It gets a little. I like the reporters, but the weird calls from random states. That will get you. That is a little weird. I just ignore the calls.
Gopher Hole: Like who calls?
Frank Ragnow: I get calls from Massachusetts and I just ignore it, so I don’t know.
Gopher Hole: Do you get much interaction from people on Twitter?
Frank Ragnow: It is funny seeing the fans. I can tweet something basically like “I like hot dogs” and they will respond say “Pig Sooey for Arkansas” or “Be a hometown hero for the Gophers.” It is funny.
Gopher Hole: Do you enjoy that part of it, though?
Frank Ragnow: I enjoy it. It is kind of weird sometimes, but it is funny. I like it, yeah.
Gopher Hole: You mentioned Minnesota and getting to be with the players. What is your feeling about Minnesota right now?
Frank Ragnow: I like them a lot. I like them a lot. There are in it until the end, no matter what because I like Minnesota a lot. I just want to look at all my options and see what school is best for me.
Gopher Hole: Obviously, you are going to have a great pick, no matter where you go. Is it going to be hard though to tell some of those schools no?
Frank Ragnow: Oh, yes. You build some good relationships with these guys. Coach Limegrover and I have a great relationship, We talk every day. Coach Pittman of Arkansas. Great. Coach Brewster (Florida State). Coach Luke at Ole Miss. They are always talking to me and you build a relationship with them. It is going to be tough saying no to some of those schools, especially because it is a wonderful opportunity everywhere.