Frank Ragnow

Classroom

Frank Ragnow holds a 3.31 GPA. He needs just three credit hours to graduate and will earn his undergraduate degree in recreation and sport management in December. He was selected to the SEC Academic Honor Roll last year and was named to the league’s 2014-15 First Year Academic Honor Roll as a freshman.

Character

Ragnow—a team captain as voted by his teammates—is a tremendous ambassador for the Razorback football program and representative of the state. He embodies everything the program and the University of Arkansas stand for. He is widely respected by his teammates and coaches and was voted a team captain by his teammates. Ragnow’s father, Jon, died of a heart attack on Oct. 1, 2016. Ragnow flew to his home in Victoria, Minn., with Coach Bret Bielema and his wife, Jen, to be with his family. He returned to Fayetteville the next Thursday and played in that Saturday’s game against No. 1 Alabama, having prepared for the Crimson Tide from home while staying in touch with his teammates and coaches.

Quote from QB Austin Allen: “Offseason, in-season or off-day, it doesn’t matter. Frank’s work ethic speaks for itself every single day. It’s what sets him apart from everyone else. It’s in his family’s DNA, and it makes him the player and the amazing person that he is. The list of reasons why Frank is a great player could go on and on, but I can tell you it wouldn’t compare to the list of reasons why he’s a great leader. After the Belk Bowl last year in front of a pissed off locker room, Frank got up and gave a speech that turned that moment into fuel for the offseason. He wasn’t a senior who had played his last game. He didn’t care. He delivered from his heart for the seniors. He does the things people don’t want to do to be great. The extra stuff. The things that make people question whether they want to be great. That’s just fuel for Frank. Just like his relentless work ethic, leadership is in his DNA.”

Community

Ragnow most recently participated in Razorback Relief: Operation Houston event to benefit those impacted by the recent flooding related to Hurricane Harvey. Razorback Relief is an outreach program that engages Razorback student-athletes in helping meet the needs of those impacted by natural disasters around the nation and the world.

He has visited the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter in Bentonville, Ark., Leverett Elementary and the Houston Children Shelter, where he signed autographs, took pictures and interacted with kids and patients. He also interacted at football practice with Special Olympics elementary school kids from Lincoln Elementary School.

He volunteered to help collect household items and food for Operation Baton Rouge, benefiting tornado disaster victims and families. He spoke at Root Elementary School at the Book Hogs Read to Win Kickoff, visited Owl Creek Elementary where he interacted with kids on the playground during recess and spoke to kids at Prism Educational Center about being a Razorback Student-Athlete and making good decisions.

Competition

Ragnow is the No. 2 center on Mel Kiper’s 2018 Draft Board and is on the Pro Football Focus All-American Watch (through Week 6). He also entered the season as a consensus preseason All-American, landing on 11 preseason All-America lists, and is a candidate for the Rimington, Outland and Wuerffel trophies.

Ragnow hasn’t allowed a sack in 40 career games, including 1,154 snaps in pass protection, and he has played 2,457 of a possible 2,902 snaps over three-plus seasons. After being named the highest-graded center a year ago by Pro Football Focus, Ragnow boasts the top grade once again at 93.1 overall through six weeks of the 2017 season. Dating back to 2015, Ragnow’s stretch of 31 consecutive starts through week 6 (17 at center and 14 at right guard) is the longest active streak on the team. He has played 342 of a possible 355 snaps this season, hasn’t given up a sack or QB hurry, has allowed just one pressure (a QB hit) this season and has helped block for three 400-plus-yard total offense efforts, including three 200-plus-yard rushing performances. Head Coach Bret Bielema said he “might be the best I’ve ever coached.”