Another recruiting gem has landed in Nick Saban’s pocket.
He has had a few former players at Alabama that went on to capture a Super Bowl ring, including James Carpenter, Jesse Williams, Terrence Cody, Courtney Upshaw, Dont’a Hightower and DeAndrew White.
Two more will have an opportunity to add their names as Reggie Ragland and Gehrig Dieter (practice squad) are headed to Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kansas City earned a 35-24 win on Sunday over Tennessee in the AFC Championship Game and while Ragland totaled just two tackles, he’s been solid all season. He recorded 30 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one touchdown. An alumnus of Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala., Ragland came to the Crimson Tide in 2012 as a four-star.
Former Alabama LB, Reggie Ragland celebrates 2015 CFP semifinal (Cotton Bowl) victory/ Photo via Cedric Mason – Touchdown Alabama Magazine
He turned in 220 career tackles, with a team-high 102 coming in 2015.
Ragland would also collect 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, six quarterback pressures and two force fumbles – en route to winning first-team All-SEC, unanimous All-American honors and Defensive Player of the Year for the Southeastern Conference.
He was on three SEC Championship teams and two national title teams.
After spending time at SMU and Bowling Green, Dieter came to Alabama in 2016 and excelled at wide receiver and on special teams.
He was a 1,000-yard (1,493) target for his career with the Falcons and for the Tide, he tallied 214 yards receiving with four touchdowns on 15 catches.
He started on the punt team, punt return team and kickoff return unit – showing NFL teams his versatility and willingness to make plays anywhere.
Despite not getting selected through seven rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft, Dieter found a home on the Chiefs’ practice squad. He is best friends with Patrick Mahomes and hopefully, he will make it to the active roster for good.
Former Alabama WR, Gehrig Dieter celebrates SEC Championship victory over Florida in 2016/ Photo comes via Cedric Mason – Touchdown Alabama Magazine
Dieter helped Alabama win an SEC Championship in 2016.
Best wishes to he and Ragland in Super Bowl 54.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
