Reggie Ragland says Kevin Steele was ‘the man who believed in me’ while at Alabama

Some were confused by Nick Saban’s choice of Kevin Steele for Alabama’s defensive coordinator, but a former Crimson Tide linebacker supports the move.

Reggie Ragland, a former Unanimous All-American, played for the Crimson Tide from 2012 to 2015.

He spent two seasons with Steele, including 2014 having Steele as the linebackers coach. Ragland excelled under Steele, posting 93 tackles (second on the team), 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble, and an interception. He made first-team All-SEC in 2014 and became the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. Ragland said Steele was ‘the man who believed in him’ while he was at Alabama. The two-time national champion (2012 and 2015) is all for his former position coach returning to the program. Steele takes over for the departed Pete Golding after he had five years as a coordinator.