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Iowa adds prep school receiver

Nico Ragaini will enroll at the University of Iowa this semester.
Nico Ragaini will enroll at the University of Iowa this semester.

After attending Iowa's camp last summer, Connecticut wide receiver Nico Ragaini had been holding out hope that the Hawkeyes might offer a late scholarship. On Sunday, when he finally received the call, 6-foot-0, 190-pound Ragaini was ready and wasted no time in quickly accepting the opportunity.

"I’ve been hoping for the Iowa offer and finally got it," said Ragaini. "I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I love the toughness and blue collar mentality that Iowa has."

Ragaini, who attended prep school at Avon Old Farms this past fall, is now getting ready to make the move to Iowa City right away as he starts classes next week.

"I will be flying out to Iowa this Thursday to enroll early," Ragaini said. "I can’t wait to get working."

For Iowa, their interest in Ragaini started a year ago when assistant coach Ken O'Keefe visited Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT. The two have remained in contact ever since and Ragaini's performance at Iowa's camp and then during the season at Avon Old Farms helped convince the Iowa coaching staff they needed to offer.

"I think I just showed them how hard I work and that I may not have the best forty time or be the biggest receiver, but I have the biggest chip on my shoulder and am confident in myself," said Ragaini.

Coming in at semester, Ragaini will get a chance to go through spring practice with the Hawkeyes and hopes to compete for playing time in 2018.

"Coach O’Keefe thinks I can play on all special teams and compete for a spot at slot receiver this year," Ragaini said.

Along with Iowa, Ragaini also considered a grayshirt offer from Boston College and an opportunity at Yale.

See highlights from his prep school year at Avon Old Farms in the video below.

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