Frank Ragnow excited Detroit Lions signed former college teammate

The Detroit Lions made a recent addition to their roster Frank Ragnow is excited about

If there is one position the Detroit Lions are determined to get right, it’s at running back. Since 2015, the Lions have used three second-round selections on that very position.

And those last two high-draft picks are responsible for the current rushing tandem of Kerryon Johnson and the rookie D’Andre Swift in Detroit. Johnson, who was drafted in 2018 out of Auburn, has struggled with injuries during his short two-year stint in Motown. Swift was drafted in large part due to Kerryon’s durability issues.

But the Lions have much more talent on the running back depth chart beyond Johnson and Swift. Last season, it was bruiser back Bo Scarbrough who carried the load after Kerryon was forced to miss eight games due to a knee injury. The former Alabama star rushed for an impressive 377 yards and a score in five starts while averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

Scarbrough figured to be Detroit’s short-yardage specialist in 2020. But the Lions’ newest signing of free-agent running back Jonathan Williams could give him some competition for that role. Here’s what Lions’ center Frank Ragnow told The Detroit News about the recent addition of his former teammate at Arkansas.

"“[Williams] was one of those dudes that impacts you right when you meet him, just kind of an alpha male, blue-collar guy who just kind of puts his head down and works. The guy just works, works and works. Doesn’t say much, kind of the like the Trey Flowers-type. Doesn’t say much and works real hard. I’m really excited he’s part of the Lions.”"

Ragnow was the Lions’ first-round selection back in 2018. His Razorback teammate, Williams. enter the NFL as a fifth-round selection by the Buffalo Bills two years earlier. The Arkansas running back was forced to miss his senior season due to a foot injury. As a junior, Williams posted 1,190 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

The 26-year old Williams has bounced around the league over the past five years, spending time with the Bills, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and landing in 2018 with the Indianapolis Colts. In fact, he posted his first career NFL start with the Colts last season, recording 26 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown in a Week Four loss to the Houston Texans.

The Detroit Lions have a plethora of talent at the running back position right now. That’s hasn’t always been the case. While Jonathan Williams faces an uphill battle cracking the roster in Motown, he’s been turning a few heads at training camp so far.