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Ragnow quickly emerges with Arkansas' large, powerful offensive line

Razorbacks started slow in Bret Bielema's third season. Once blockers found chemistry, Arkansas won six of seven.

January 10, 2016 at 11:32AM

The college bowl season has turned into a monumental bore and I set a personal record for least time spent watching as the 40 games were played from Dec. 19 to Jan. 2.

There were two games that I found myself part of the TV audience for a significant time: Clemson's 37-17 victory over Oklahoma in the College Football Playoffs semifinals, and Arkansas' 45-23 victory over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl.

Watching the first of those doesn't need an explanation. Watching the second, I became fixated on the blocking power of the Razorbacks in the second-half annihilation of Kansas State.

Frank Ragnow, a sophomore from Chanhassen High School, was the right guard for Arkansas. He's 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, and on the Razorbacks' offensive line, he could be referred to as "Tiny.''

Arkansas had the biggest offensive in football – both major colleges and the NFL. The average of 328 pounds from tackle-to-tackle was two pounds heavier than the Chargers, six pounds heavier than the Bills and eight pounds heavier than the Florida Gators.

"I'm the smallest; our center, Mitch Smothers, was next at 6-3 and 322,'' Ragnow said. "The first part of the season was a disappointment. We started off slow as a line. Once we found our chemistry, the offense got on a good roll.''

Bret Bielema's third Arkansas team was 2-4 in the middle of October, including a 16-12 loss to Toledo in Little Rock. Then, the Hogs came out of a bye week and won six of seven, including the 569-yard onslaught (315 passing, 254 rushing) against K-State.

Smothers and left guard Sebastian Tretola (6-5, 334) were seniors. Left tackle Denver Kirkland (6-5, 340) declared for the NFL draft, as did another junior -- much-honored tight end Hunter Henry (6-5, 253).

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The line will be rebuilt around right tackle Dan Skipper (6-1, 331) and Ragnow, who is expected to move to center.

Ragnow is home on winter break right now. "Some ice fishing … and we have a new chocolate lab I have to get to know,'' he said. "Then, I'll get back in the weight room; maybe get a little bigger.''

Go for it, Tiny.

PLUS THREE FROM PATRICK

Bret Bielema at Arkansas, three years after leaving Wisconsin:

*The Razorbacks have gone from 0-8 in the mighty SEC West in his first season (2013) to 5-3 in 2015.

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*Arkansas has defeated former archrival Texas and Bill Snyder, Bielema's K-State mentor, in back-to-back bowl games.

*Frank Ragnow on Bielema: "He's a man. He's a players' coach. He really cares about you as a person.''

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Patrick Reusse

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Patrick Reusse is a sports columnist who writes three columns per week.

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