Hog Futures Randy Ramsey

It's up, at 'em for Hog

Dillard's Randy Ramsey (10) makes a tackle during a 2012 game against St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The ninth in a series profiling newcomers on the 2014 Arkansas Razorbacks football team.

Arkansas freshman linebacker Randy Ramsey has learned already that life is much different than it was in high school.

"You have to grow up fast," said Ramsey, a linebacker from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard. "You have to do stuff on your own, handle your own business, like a grown man."

Randy Ramsey glance

CLASS Freshman

HEIGHT 6-3 1/2

WEIGHT 220 pounds

POSITION Linebacker

HOMETOWN Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

LAST STOP Dillard High School

NOTEWORTHY Rated the No. 112 safety in the nation and the No. 209 overall prospect in Florida by ESPN. … A four-year starter who played cornerback, safety, defensive end and linebacker. He recorded 83 tackles, including 34 for loss, 25 sacks and 4 forced fumbles at defensive end as a senior. Older brother Allen is a junior defensive back at Wake Forest.

Ramsey, 6-3 1/2, 220 pounds, 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is one of four linebackers in the 2014 recruiting class who are expected to contribute for the Razorbacks the fall. ESPN rated him as the No. 112 safety in the nation and the No. 209 overall prospect in Florida.

"You don't have anyone waking you up to tell you what time to be in for weights," said Ramsey, whose brother Allen is a junior cornerback at Wake Forest. "You have to get up on your own."

Ramsey and 10 other freshmen reported to Fayetteville in early June for the first summer session of classes and workouts. A big part of the adjustment has been getting used to the 5 a.m. workouts.

"We got used to it in about the second week," Ramsey said. "We got used to everything -- the schedule, the classes and the weights."

Ramsey said he has grown a half-inch since signing day in February and has added 7 pounds to his frame since arriving at Arkansas.

"They say I may grow another inch or so," Ramsey said. "Before I leave Arkansas, I might be around 6-4, 250."

Ramsey was a four-year starter and played cornerback, safety and linebacker in high school. He wrapped up his senior season with 83 tackles, including 34 for loss, 25 sacks and forced 4 fumbles as a defensive end. He chose the Hogs over scholarship offers from Kentucky, North Carolina State, Cincinnati, Rutgers and Illinois.

"Randy is a big guy I've been watching for a long time," Arkansas linebackers coach Randy Shannon said. "The first time I watched him, he was a big corner. I went back out another time and he was playing safety, and then I went back another time -- this is over some years -- and the next thing I see he's playing linebacker and then last year he played some outside rush end, linebacker."

The Razorbacks plan to use Ramsey at strong-side linebacker, which demands a versatile athlete with an ability to drop into coverage and support the run.

"I see him as an outside guy, a guy that can bring some versatility because he's a big guy that can run," Shannon said. "He'll probably be up to 225, 227. He's very smart."

Ramsey said he also believes he'll feel comfortable at the position because it's similar to what he played in high school.

"My senior year in high school, I played rush end, and they [Arkansas] have a lot of schemes for me coming off the edge, rushing the quarterback," he said. "They also have some schemes with me covering the slot receiver because I played defensive back in high school, too.

"It's a good mix between defensive end and linebacker."

Ramsey said working with Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert has been a great experience. Herbert spent 11 seasons at Wisconsin, where he helped produce 41 draft picks, and was instrumental in the Hogs having four players taken in this year's NFL Draft.

"We do stuff in the weight room I've never done in my life," Ramsey said. "Stuff we do for our arms and legs will make you stand out on the field."

Ramsey was one of six official visitors the Hogs played host to during the Jan. 24-26 weekend. He said so far life on campus has been everything he experienced and heard about during his official visit.

"The players I met they told me everything and how it was going to be when I got up here," Ramsey said. "Since I've been here, everything they told me has happened. Everything they told me was true."

Sports on 07/16/2014