When the Tennessee Titans drafted North Dakota State product and offensive lineman Dillon Radunz in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, two traits we heard about most were his athleticism and physicality upfront.
But the Titans also appear to be getting a cerebral player who can diagnose things quickly post-snap.
That is according to Radunz’s former head coach at North Dakota State, Matt Entz, who called the versatile offensive lineman “a savant,” according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“He’s a very intelligent, cerebral individual. He sees things and he’s going to think about them…
“But the thing that is different with him than any kid that I ever recruited, or coached, is post-snap. He is a savant. He sees a lot of movement and things that go on that most o-linemen can’t see. Whether it’s blitzes or movement, he’s understanding when things change on the run.”
Radunz also displayed great work ethic during the 2020 campaign that was marred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Entz recalls the 23-year-old filling up the bed of his truck with weights and bars so he could work out during camping trips.
“He had his truck, but in the back of it he had a bed full of weights, and bars. So, he said, ‘Wherever I was camping, I could get a workout in, out in the woods. That just tells you the type of (guy) he is – very resourceful, very intelligent, and an always on the move type of individual.”
Radunz could make an impact for the Titans as soon as 2021. The rookie will have an opportunity to win the starting right tackle job out of training camp, but he’ll have to beat out Kendall Lamm and Ty Sambrailo to do so.
