‘I’ve got to make the play every single time’: Hawkeyes WR Nico Ragaini dialing in ahead of 2022
It’s a big year for Iowa Hawkeyes redshirt senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini. He understands that this is his final chance to impress prospective NFL draft scouts and leave his mark on Iowa City. How much Ragaini improves could be a direct indicator of how much the Iowa offense improves as a whole.
Ragaini ended the 2021 season as Iowa’s third-leading receiver behind tight end Sam LaPorta’s 670 receiving yards and wide receiver Keagan Johnson’s 352. The 6-foot, 191 pound wide receiver out of Notre Dame High School in East Haven, Conn., finished last season with 26 grabs for 331 receiving yards and he had one touchdown reception.
His 26 receptions actually ranked first among Iowa wide receivers, but he’s looking for much more in 2022. Ragaini met with Hawk Central and the rest of the Iowa media to discuss a range of topics as the Hawkeyes begin their summer work in earnest.
Iowa's wide receivers know there's plenty of opportunities to impress
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In part because of the departure of wide receiver and return specialist Charlie Jones to Purdue, Iowa’s incoming wide receivers and those that have already spent extended time in Iowa City understand there’s reps up for grabs.
“Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think all the receivers know that for themselves. They don’t have to be told that. I mean, everyone wants to come here and play and make big-time plays in front of all these people, so, I mean, they know and they know that really only a couple of us have played last year and there’s spots to fill. So, I think everyone’s eager and excited and ready for the opportunity,” Ragaini said.
Speaking of Charlie Jones
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According to Ragaini, there’s no hard feelings between himself and now former Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones.
“I mean, he told me right before he let everybody know, so I just wish him luck. We talk all the time, so just wish him the best. What’s in the past is in the past, you can’t like sit here and cry and you can’t make someone who doesn’t want to be here, be here, because then it’s non-beneficial for both of us. So, he thinks he’s better off there, I wish him the best of luck and it’ll be fun seeing him this year,” Ragaini said.
Hawkeye wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland feels Ragaini is an extension of himself
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Iowa wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland spent part of last week lauding Ragaini as an extension of the coaching staff. As one of the elder statesmen in the Hawkeyes’ wide receiver corps, Ragaini is embracing his leadership role entering 2022.
“That’s pretty cool that he said that, first off. Makes me feel pretty good, but, yeah, I would say that before, I feel like this is a new role for me pretty much. I’m not, I’m the only old guy in the room pretty much, so just trying to share all my knowledge with the younger guys as best as I possibly can and knowing that not everything is just for me to take in, but as much knowledge as I can share with everybody else.
“These young guys definitely, they want to learn and are eager to learn. We run routes like twice a week and everybody’s asking me how we run the routes and what drills to do to help run the speed cuts and stuff like that. I’m excited to teach them and they’re excited to learn,” Ragaini said.
On the new guys
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Ragaini wasn’t ready to throw out any names of newcomers that might make an immediate impact in 2022, but he did report positive early returns on Iowa’s additions at wide receiver.
“I mean, it’s pretty early. The new kids just got here last week, so I haven’t got to see them a whole lot, but they all look pretty good. There’s five of them. I was just making sure I learned all their names and everything. See, it was hard because there’s like 40 or 50 new freshmen in here, but they’re all good kids, they’re all eager to learn. Everyone’s been grinding in skills and drills and all that extra passing and stuff, just learning and trying to get the chemistry down. So, I could see all of them making an impact this year,” Ragaini said.
Where can he be better in 2022?
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One of the best responses Ragaini shared in his first summer media availability was in regards to where he feels he can improve in 2022 after reevaluating his tape from last season.
“So, I actually have thought about this a lot. One thing I’m really trying to work on is—so like in high school football, everybody in here pretty much was the man in high school football, you know, I was getting the ball like every single time. Some games it’s going to happen, some games it’s not going to happen, but staying in the mindset that every single play I can make an impact and keeping myself in the game 100 percent and making the catches,” Ragaini said.
Among a group of wide receivers that brings back three of its top four pass catchers but will be searching for depth beyond that trio, it’s imperative that Ragaini delivers his best season yet.
“When my opportunity is called, I’ve got to make the play every single time. There were some plays when I took off some plays blocking, stuff like that. Some plays I feel like I could’ve made the catch, but I didn’t make the catch. So, this year, I’m just trying to catch every single ball and block as hard as I can. A 110 percent every single play. Just leaving it all out on the field,” Ragaini said.
It’s clear he recognizes the clock is ticking on his college career and Ragaini appears to be funneling that into his motivation for 2022.
“You know, I’ve got like six more months here pretty much is what I’m thinking. Going into my fifth year and I feel like I’m this close to making it to the goal that I want, so I might as well put everything into it. If you can’t sacrifice for what you’ve wanted your whole entire life, then you don’t want it that bad. And I feel like I want it that bad, or I know I want it that bad. That’s what I’m going into this year (thinking),” Ragaini said.
He also noted his dad’s impact on his offseason reflection.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with my dad and stuff like that. He’s coached me for a while. He played Division I baseball at UConn, so he knows about sports obviously. I know I’m my best player when I like have this little swag to myself a little bit. Sometimes I get myself out of it, so I’ve just got to focus on myself and just get in that zone every single game. That’s my goal this year,” Ragaini said.
All hands back on deck healthy
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Wide receiver room aside, perhaps the biggest news that Ragaini shared was that his injured teammates from the spring are back healthy.
“Yeah, definitely. As you guys know, spring ball a lot of people were banged up and injured at all the games and stuff, but we started skills and drills this week on Wednesday, and then I looked at the defense and all the linebackers were back out there, the DB’s were out there, everybody was healthy, so it felt good. All the guys going up against each other, making each other better. Iron sharpens iron, so it was fun,” Ragaini said.
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