Senior Bowl 2019 Interview – Dalton Risner

Dalton Risner – OL (Kansas State)

Measurables:  Hgt: 6 ’4 ½”     Wgt: 308 lbs.   Hand:  10 ⅝”   Arm: 34 ¼ ”     Wing: 81“

PROFILE: 

SENIOR (2018): Was named a First Team All-American by Pro Football Focus, CBSSports.com and The Sporting News and earned second team honors from Sports IllustratedI and the Associated Press. Also again picked up First Team All-Big 12 accolades from the league’s coaches and Associated Press. For the third straight year Risner was named a First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer. Was selected as one of three finalists for the 2018 Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.”  The Wuerffel Trophy, named after Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Florida, is awarded to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

JUNIOR (2017): Started all 12 regular-season games at right tackle as he was named a First Team All-American by Pro Football Focus and earned second team honors from CBSSports.com… Also picked up First Team All-Big 12 accolades from the league’s coaches and Associated Press… A First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer who was also a member of the AFCA Good Works Team.
SOPHOMORE (2016): Started all 13 games at right tackle, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches and second-team accolades from the Associated Press… Helped lead an offensive line that paved the way for a school record 5.27-yard per carry average … Also helped the Wildcats rank sixth nationally in rushing touchdowns… Named to ESPN.com’s All-Big 12 Underclassmen team… A First Team Academic All-Big 12 performer… Voted a team captain for the 2016 season.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2015): A 13-game starter at center who earned First Team Freshman All-America honors from Campus Insiders and second-team honors from Athlon and Scout… Picked up Second Team Academic All-Big 12 accolades.
REDSHIRT (2014): Redshirted.

On what he wants to show NFL teams through the interviews and other interactions that they would be getting in him as a person – beyond the on-field performance

Outside of me on the football field, I want to show them what you get different in Dalton Risner. You look at a lot of guys here. I want to sit down with the GM and the head coach and them leave and say this guy really understands the game of football. That’s a smart kid. That’s a kid that has a personality that I can relate to – he can talk – he’s comfortable talking. A guy that’s going to represent our club on and off the field. A guy that comes into our locker room and we believe that he’s going to create a culture or help a culture go on and help start a foundation on our club.

On what type of advice he has gotten from coaches and scouts at the Senior Bowl with respect to how he should approach this opportunity and process

A lot of the advice is – hey, we want to see what you do. This is three days. They are going to be here for practice – the game is important, but guys are trying to stay healthy. Practice is – let’s go at it! I got an hour and a half practice today. Who are you going to be in that hour and a half? Are you going to be a guy that is trying to finish blocks? How do you practice? Are you a good leader? Are you hustling back from drills? Are you a guy that we want to spend millions of dollars on and bring you into our club? And are you going to represent the Chicago Bears (example) in a good way? Or are you going to come in and not represent us and not work hard and get you butt kicked every single day in practice? That’s what they’re trying to see. So I’m going to be full go for an hour and a half straight today!

On what position he sees himself playing at the NFL level

Right tackle! I feel at home at right tackle. I feel like that’s where I belong. At the same time, if the coach says you’re not a right tackle, you suck at it – you’re going to be my left guard. Sounds good coach! You know, put me in at left guard, I can do that.

On the fact that the Raiders coaches (North Team coaching staff) intend to use him at all three offensive line positions and how difficult that will be trying to prepare to showcase his versatility

Yeah, you know, I can’t just learn the right tackle position. I’m learning a brand new playbook for the Raiders and I have to know what the right tackle does as well as the right guard and center and to be honest, coach might throw me at left tackle or left guard. If I could just hone in on one position, I’ll have that mastered – I wouldn’t be worried at all. You know, I was up all night last night trying to master all five positions.

On what he believes would be the most challenging position on the offensive line for him

The most challenging? Probably something on the left side. I’ve always been on the right side, I’m familiar with right tackle, I’m familiar with center. Right guard kind of correlates just because you’re in a right-handed stance. You mix up that stance you’re using a whole different hand, you’re using whole different feet to take your steps. So anything on the left side would probably be challenging. Now I’m not going to say I’m definitely comfortable doing so but it would probably be more challenging than right.

Given the fact that they are looking at him at different positions along the offensive line, what are his thoughts about having to transition within a practice – going against a quicker outside pass rusher in one rep and then having to face a bigger, stronger interior defensive lineman the next rep

Yep! It’s a whole different style of play. You gotta be able to transition. If you are that guy who wants to preach to the media that you’re versatile, then you better be able to do it in practice.  You better be able to block Montez Sweat from Mississippi State, who is 6’ 7”, with long arms and then you better be able to go inside and block whoever it is, you know Christian Wilkins from Clemson. Right? You better be able to do both. It takes a whole different style of play, different footwork, a lot tighter steps inside. You got to be able to be stronger with tighter hands. And outside you gotta be able to take bigger steps and kick out there and get on quick guys like that.

On who he is most looking forward to blocking in the NFL

Probably if I get the chance to block Von Miller that would be a dream come true, just because I grew up an hour outside Denver. Love the Denver Broncos and their staff. Von Miller is an extremely good defensive end that almost no one can block. I’d love the opportunity to go against him. After the game I might be telling you the opposite, but right now, I’d like to go against him.