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From anxiety to fun for coveted Chanhassen lineman Frank Ragnow

By Star Tribune, 05/21/13, 5:35PM CDT

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The 6-6, 288-pound junior from Chanhassen is the top offensive line prospect in Minnesota and has been picking up new Division I football scholarship offers almost daily.


Ragnow

Frank Ragnow is a hot commodity.

The 6-6, 288-pound junior from Chanhassen is the top offensive line prospect in Minnesota and has been picking up new Division I football scholarship offers almost daily.

Ragnow, who projects as a tackle, has offers from Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Kansas, Florida State, South Florida and California.

Plenty of others are showing interest as well. Ohio State and Wisconsin have indicated they’re prepared to make offers if he attends their summer camps. Washington and Northwestern talked about him possibly playing some defensive line if that suits him.

“It’s been pretty crazy,” he said. “I’m just trying to embrace the process. So far, it’s been going great. I’m having a lot of fun.”

Q: The offers have been coming in pretty quickly. Any surprises?

A: Not really. Things have picked up because it’s the spring evaluation process. Earlier, I was getting anxious at times because I wasn’t getting any offers. Things are way more fun now.

Q: Was it tough to sit back and wait?

A: Yeah. Schools were sending mail and telling me they liked me. But I was following a lot of recruiting stuff, and I saw other kids getting offers. It was getting hard.

Q: Do you ever sit back in awe thinking about some of the big names chasing you?

A: Yeah. It’s quite a humbling process. It’s kind of like a dream every day.

Q: Do you have a short list?

A: Right now, it’s kind of wide open. I’ll probably start narrowing it down near the end of summer, after I’ve taken visits.

Q: How important is playing college football?

A: I’ve always had the mentality that I wanted to play college football and then play in the NFL. It’s something I believe I can do.

Q: When you thought of playing college football, what team did you picture yourself with?

A: I’ve always been more of an NFL fan, but I always like the Gophers, the Florida Gators, USC. I liked Texas when they had Vince Young.

Q: Have you always been the biggest kid on the team?

A: I’ve been big since the day I was born. I was a double-striper in youth football [stripes indicate weight limits for carrying the football]. I wasn’t allowed to touch the ball.

Q: Have you ever scored?

A: In eighth grade, I was playing noseguard and I took the handoff from the other team and ran it back for a touchdown. That was pretty cool. It was the only time I’ve ever touched the ball.

Q: Do you ever ask your coach for a chance to carry the ball?

A: Every day I’m bugging him about letting me play tight end or something. I could be the next great QB. I can gun and I’ve got pretty good hands.

Q: Is there any place where your size works against you?

A: Definitely in cars. In my friends’ cars, I always have to sit shotgun and hope they have a sunroof to stick my head out a little bit.

Q: Recruiting websites have written a lot about you. You have a gift for making every team feel as if you’re leaning toward them. Is that by design or does it come naturally?

A: I just want to keep all of the coaches happy. Any school could be the one. I might love it after I visit. You never know.

JIM PAULSEN

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