Gus Ragland
Quarterback
Miami (Ohio)
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Gus Ragland: I am 6’1, 215 lbs and I run anywhere between a 4.7 and a 4.85.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Gus Ragland: I am training at Bommarito Performance Systems in Davie, Florida.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall experience at the 2019 Tropical Bowl.
Gus Ragland: I had a great experience at the Tropical Bowl. I felt like I went out and competed as well as performed at a high level. Two of my teammates from college were there, and we spent a lot of time together. It’s only been three weeks since we graduated and it already felt like the good old days.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest thing that you will take away from the Tropical Bowl?
Gus Ragland: My biggest take away from the Tropical Bowl was understanding how much talent there is in this process. Just about everyone can play and everybody came from successful backgrounds. It is about finding little ways to separate yourself that can get you noticed. Every desirable attribute that you possess needs to come to the fore front in this process. That can be the difference.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Gus Ragland: Out of high school, I initially thought I would play division I baseball as a pitcher. We won a state title in baseball my junior year, and I was undefeated with a 0.69 ERA. Since I played receiver my junior year, I didn’t have any football offers. That all changed when we won a state championship in football my senior year, and I won offensive player of the year in Ohio. I had three division I-AA offers (William and Mary, Indiana State and Robert Morris) as well as Miami (OH). I was talking to some small Big 10 schools about playing receiver, but decided I wanted to play quarterback in college. That is when I chose Miami (OH).
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Miami, Ohio?
Gus Ragland: I chose Miami because of coach Chuck Martin. He came from Notre Dame, and I really believed he had big things in mind for our program. It was also close to home. It wasn’t until I got to the school that I realized how perfect of a college it is. From the academics to social to the proximity of everything on campus, I was lucky.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Gus Ragland: My strength is my experience. I’ve played football my whole life and have a lot of game film. I am smart. I graduated with a degree in engineering and ran a complex system in college that I was able to handle. I am athletic and can make plays when something breaks down. I am accurate. I completed over 60 percent of passes in college and threw only 13 interceptions.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Gus Ragland: I want to improve on my game under center, as well as developing from the pocket. These are both points of emphasis moving forward to the next level.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Gus Ragland: I would say my career was very productive. I didn’t throw a lot of interceptions (13) and I scored a lot of touchdowns (70) in 28 games as a starter.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Gus Ragland: The biggest highlight of my career is after being out with an injury, taking an 0-6 team to 6-6. That’s something that never has been done in college football, and I don’t think ever will be again.
Alex Khvatov: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Gus Ragland: My OC taught me a lot of valuable life lessons. As a quarterback, like any leader in life, you have to realize that people are always looking at you to see how to react. It is about being the same person every day. Good, bad, ugly. The great ones handle losing the same way, they handle winning. Never too high and never too low. More than anything, it is about getting better and seeing improvement in everything you do.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Gus Ragland: I am from Cincinnati so I like to watch the Bengals.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Gus Ragland: My favorite NFL player is Tom Brady. I love his competitiveness and how he carries himself. He is not the most talented, but he is cerebral and extremely confident. I love seeing that in a player.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a QB?
Gus Ragland: Toughness is the most important characteristic of a QB.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the defense?
Gus Ragland: Football is all about compartmentalizing the game. If you can organize what a defense does in different situations, you make your life easier. From there it is about seeing the front first. Then I like to look at backers. Them being in the box or out of the box can tell me who’s in the fit. Next, I look at corners (these guys usually give it away) and lastly, I look at safety rotation pre and post snap.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Gus Ragland: You need to watch Andrew Homer (TE), Danny Godlevske (C) and Tommy Doyle (LT) next year.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the toughest player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Gus Ragland: Sutton Smith from NIU was tough to play against. We couldn’t run any power read option. We also had to chip him every down and get the ball out.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Gus Ragland: I enjoy football because it is tough. Physically and mentally. If you can thrive in football, people can look at you and say “that is a tough person”.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Gus Ragland: A leader knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Gus Ragland: I like playing video games, as well as binge watching Netflix shows.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Gus Ragland: When football is over, I plan to coach at some point as well as pursue a career in engineering.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Gus Ragland: I am tough, competitive, resilient, determined and amicable.
