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Ramsey’s Journey Goes Full Circle At Arkansas

Arkansas sophomore earns way back into the Razorbacks’ program and then earned his scholarship back

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) - Randy Ramsey doesn't look like a normal defensive end in the SEC. Then again, nothing the sophomore has done in his time at Arkansas has been normal.

Ramsey was expected to contribute right away as a freshman in 2014 but things didn't go as planned as he recorded eight tackles while playing in seven games. Off the field, things didn't go as planned either and eventually led to his dismal from the Razorbacks' program.

Most times players leave a school after being booted from the football team but Ramsey wasn't done in Fayetteville. Instead of moving elsewhere, Ramsey paid for his own school and got back into Bret Bielema's good graces and eventually back on the football team as a walk on.

Last week, Bielema gave Ramsey his scholarship back.

Ramsey made the move from linebacker to defensive end early in fall camp and took advantage as he recorded three sacks in the Razorbacks' first scrimmage of the fall. It's a role, coming off the edge as a pass rusher, that's new to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native in college but not in his playing career.

"I'm just trying to run the plays that coach Smith calls, perfectly," Ramsey said. "I came off the edge my senior year (in high school) so in the scrimmage it was kind of easy for me to come off the edge."

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Ramsey doesn't have the size of most SEC defensive ends but fellow end Deatrich Wise said what his teammate is doing on and off the field speaks for itself.

"It shows resiliency from Randy," Wise said. "Randy is very impactful on our defensive line and he's learning the defense and he's getting better everyday in practice. I'm proud of him."

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