Heading into last week’s NFL Draft, the bulk of the conversations centered around the elite talent at quarterback in the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Zach Wilson. However, there was also a plethora of super-talented offensive lineman on the radar of many GMs and right there towards the top was a Becker High School standout and NDSU alum.
Dillon Radunz, who played for the Bulldogs under Dwight Lundeen, then played at NDSU under two coaches, was selected in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2021 NFL draft held last weekend. Dillon, standing at 6’6” and 300-lbs., will be playing right tackle for the Tennessee Titans of the AFC.
Dillon was at home with family and friends watching the draft and hoping for the call that would change his life forever.
Was he on pins and needles leading up to draft day?
“Not leading up to the draft but on the second day of the draft, I was definitely a little anxious,” Dillon said.
“It was pretty calm,” Dillon’s mom, Kathy (Kat) said. “(It was) actually surreal for me up until about a week prior to the draft. Then it hit me. My son is going to play football in the NFL and realize his dreams. There were a few times that I got so emotional that the tears would just pour out.”
Even Dillon’s high school coach, Dwight Lundeen was affected while watching the draft.
“I got very emotional when the 53 pick was announced,” said Lundeen. “I’m so happy for Dillon and Becker football.”
Dillon has been described as being extremely versatile on the offensive line. His advantage over others is that he is capable of playing either on the left side, the right side or even center, should a team require him to do so. He is tough, strong, and displays terrific awareness. Others describe Dillon’s play as being patient, fundamentally sound, and he consistently bends his knees, blocking with leverage, staying square, and does a great job using body positioning while sealing defenders from the action.
As the draft commenced and player-after-player got chosen in the first round, Dillon began calculating in his mind what team may come calling.
“The Titans were on my radar but they were not really even in the top five teams that I would’ve guessed to draft me,” he said. “I had great talks with their GM at the senior bowl and had fun zoom meetings with the staff before the draft so relations have always been great with them. Tennessee is the perfect fit for me! Looking back I don’t think I could be in a better spot.”
As the draft ticked on throughout the day, Dillon’s phone finally buzzed alive and he glanced at the caller ID.
“Receiving that phone call was an amazing feeling. Especially seeing Tennessee on the caller ID,” he said. “Sure I could have gone earlier in the draft but ultimately this is the best spot and I’m glad God made me wait for this one.”
“It was a surprise,” said Kat. “I don’t think any of us thought that he would go to Tennessee. We were celebrating one of Dillon’s friends from training in California being drafted at #51 when he looked down at his phone, looked at me and said, ‘This is it…I’m gonna be a Titan’”.
His mom said the tears came instantly for all of his family and friends there celebrating his special day.
“We were all trying to be quiet as he talked to the GM and the coaches but could hardly contain ourselves,” she said. “Lots of emotions….missing his Dad and how extremely happy he must be watching from the best seat in the house.”
Dillon lost his father, Jeff, in 2010 when he was just 45 years old.
Radunz has always been considered an outstanding left tackle for North Dakota State and turned in three outstanding days of practice during January’s Senior Bowl. He offers possibilities at left tackle or even inside at guard in a zone-blocking system and comes with a large upside. While there may be bumps in the road early in his NFL career, Radunz is expected to be a starter in the right system.
“It’s very unusual that a player go six years in high school and college and not lose a game,” said Lundeen. “He is a winner. The Titans can build around him.”
Radunz wasn’t supposed to be an offensive tackle as he was originally recruited as a two-star defensive end prospect out of Becker. However, after he signed with the renowned Bison program, head coach Matt Entz initially envisioned Radunz as a three-tech defensive lineman. Relatively quickly, Entz soon saw Radunz’s potential as a blocker and instead rostered him as a tackle and the rest is history.
But, his NFL career potential almost never happened.
Coming into college football at just 265 pounds, Radunz redshirted the 2016 season, intent on adding to his frame. He got his chance to earn playing time on the line the next year. However, after logging just fifteen snaps, the NDSU offensive tackle suffered a torn ACL, ending his 2017 campaign prematurely.
Normally, an ACL tear would be a red flag on Radunz’s record, but he came back with might and main. He recovered in time for the 2018 season and started all 15 games at left tackle in a championship-winning season. He earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors for his performance. He’d even take his game up one more notch in 2019.
“I could not be prouder of Dillon,” said Lundeen. “He has worked so hard to overcome that ACL injury and has become a great weight room lifter. That kind of thing will only help him as he gets older - 10 year starter at left tackle.”
Because of COVID-19, the FCS wound up moving its football season to the spring and rescheduled its championship for April and May. This obviously presented a scheduling conflict for FCS draft prospects such as QB Lance and Radunz. Thus, the Bison scheduled a one-game showcase in October against the Central Arkansas Bears.
The Bison won the game against the Bears by a score of 39-28, and Radunz consistently moved defenders across the field and broke open lanes for the running game. In pass protection, his mobility and length proved to be too much for his opponents. Although the Bison remain were set to play in the spring season, Radunz and Lance did not join them and opted for the draft.
Dillon was a coaches dream throughout his high school and college careers. His size, athletic prowess and his level-headedness provided a dream specimen in basketball, track & field and football. Many kids have dreams of playing at higher levels — few ever get that chance.
“To be honest, every kid dreams of it (going professional) but I never thought it was in the cards for me until my redshirt sophomore season when my OL coach told me that if I wanted to, then I could go to the league,” Dillon said. “For me, it doesn’t get any better than this. All I need is an opportunity and that’s what I’ve got so I’m going to have fun with it!”
“I am just so happy that his dreams came true,” Kat said. “He truly deserves this and more. His work ethic, drive, determination and perseverance is amazing. He fought back from that season-ending ACL injury and never looked back. He is strong in faith and believes that God truly has a plan. Jeff is beaming from ear to ear right now saying ‘that’s my boy’.”
Radunz’s athletic traits were validated at his pro day. The NDSU offensive tackle earned a Relative Athletic Score of 9.28. Although he was marked down for his size, his 1.76 10-yard split, 32-inch vertical jump, and 114-inch broad jump boosted his results. So too did his agility numbers. Radunz was strong there, and despite measuring in at only 301 pounds, he still put up 24 reps on the bench.
A far cry from when he was tossing Falcons (Foley), Cardinals (Annandale) and Packers (So. St. Paul) in his high school days of delivering holes for running backs. Now he can do the same at the highest level, thanks to his past coaches, teams and teammates who made all this happen for the young man from Becker.
“I am a product of my environment and I have the whole community of Becker to be thankful for,” Dillon said. “And blessed is an understatement when I say what a privilege it was to play for Dwight Lundeen and the Becker Bulldogs.”
Dillon has one final thing to say to all those kids who also dream of playing at the next level.
“To the kids..... play all the sports you can, find something you love and run with it,” he says. “Treat people with a smile, and above all else enjoy each day even if it’s raining.”
“There are no words to explain how proud I am of Dillon,” says Kat. “He has truly worked his entire life to reach this goal. I remember him saying in flag football in like first or second grade ‘I’m going to play in the NFL’. He put in the blood, sweat and tears and never lost sight of where he wanted to go.”
