Dillon Radunz
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dillon Radunz
| image = Dillon Radunz 2021 09-19.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Radunz with the Tennessee Titans in 2021
| current_team = New Orleans Saints
| number =
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|3|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place = St. Cloud, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 301
| high_school = Becker {{avoid wrap|(Becker, Minnesota)}}
| college = North Dakota State (2016–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 53
| pastteams = * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2024}})
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights = * 3× FCS champion (2017, 2018, 2019)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 54
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 31
| pfr = RaduDi00
}}
Dillon Jeffrey Radunz (born March 28, 1998) is an American professional football guard for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Radunz grew up mostly in Becker, Minnesota, after his family moved there when he was in first grade. He attended Becker High School, where he played basketball, football, and threw shot put and discus on the track and field team. He currently holds the Becker High School Shot put record at 57' 7". He was a two year starter at both offensive tackle and defensive end for Becker as the team went 25–1 and won back-to-back state championships. As a senior Radunz, was named the All-Area Football Player of the Year by the St. Cloud Times, East Central District North Division Most Valuable Player, and first-team All-State. He finished his high school career with 163 tackles, including 14 sacks.{{Cite web |last=Elliot |first=Tom |date=November 28, 2015 |title=Dream realized for Bulldogs star, player of the year |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/high-school/2015/11/28/dream-realized-bulldogs-star-player-year/76384362/ |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=St. Cloud Times}} Radunz committed to play college football at North Dakota State.{{Cite web |last=Holmgren |first=Ryan |date=June 22, 2015 |title=2016 Wyoming target: Dillon Radunz |url=https://trib.com/sports/college/wyoming/football/2016-wyoming-target-dillon-radunz/article_15617f84-d406-5b3b-895c-6aa8f617ddfe.html |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Casper Star-Tribune}}
College career
Radunz redshirted as a true freshman. He was named a starter going into his freshman season, but suffered a season ending knee injury after playing 17 snaps in the season opener.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Bill |date=August 23, 2017 |title=Radunz Likely To Start For Bison Come Sept. 2 |url=https://patriotnewsmn.com/sports/radunz-likely-to-start-for-bison-come-sept-2 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Patriot News}}{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2017 |title=MCFEELY: How many key injuries can Bison survive? |url=https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/sports/4324837-mcfeely-how-many-key-injuries-can-bison-survive |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=The Dickinson Press}} He was named second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and started 15 games as a redshirt sophomore. As a junior he played 682 snaps with 63 knockdowns and zero sacks allowed in 12 regular season games and started all 16 of the Bison's games and was named first-team All-MVFC and was a consensus first-team All-American selection.{{Cite web |title=Radunz remains focused on graduation, then the NFL |url=https://www.valleynewslive.com/2020/08/19/radunz-remains-focused-on-graduation-then-the-nfl/ |access-date=September 8, 2020}}{{Cite web |title=Meet Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State's stud OT prospect |url=https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/07/30/2021-nfl-draft-prospects-dillon-radunz-north-dakota-state-interview/ |access-date=September 8, 2020}} Radunz entered his redshirt senior season as a consensus preseason All-American.{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Kolpack: Exodus of FCS stars hasn't reached Lance, Radunz |url=https://www.dl-online.com/sports/football/6612987-Kolpack-Exodus-of-FCS-stars-hasnt-reached-Lance-Radunz-level-with-Bison-yet |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Detroit Lakes Tribune |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515224347/https://www.dl-online.com/sports/football/6612987-Kolpack-Exodus-of-FCS-stars-hasnt-reached-Lance-Radunz-level-with-Bison-yet |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2020 |title=Senior Bowl executive director thinks Bison OT Radunz has NFL first round potential |url=https://www.inforum.com/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/football/6546387-Senior-Bowl-executive-director-thinks-Bison-OT-Radunz-has-NFL-Draft-first-round-potential |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead}} He started the only game of North Dakota State's fall season against Central Arkansas, as the MVFC postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Randy |date=October 3, 2020 |title=Dillon Radunz gives NDSU another NFL prospect from Minnesota |url=https://www.startribune.com/radunz-gives-ndsu-another-nfl-prospect-from-minnesota/572617452/ |access-date=October 4, 2020 |website=Minneapolis Star Tribune}} Radunz attended and played in the 2021 Senior Bowl.{{Cite news |last=Westrick |first=Sam |date=October 3, 2020 |title=Senior Bowl offers first invitation to NDSU's Radunz |work=247Sports.com |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-dakota-state/Article/Dillon-Radunz-gets-the-first-Senior-Bowl-Invite-NDSU-Football-Trey-Lance-Dillon-Radunz-152397690/ |accessdate=November 22, 2020}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 3/4
| weight = 301
| dash = 5.12
| ten split = 1.76
| twenty split = 3.01
| shuttle = 4.57
| cone drill = 7.26
| vertical = 32.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 4
| bench = 24
| arm span = 34
| hand span = 9
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/dillon-radunz/32005241-4474-6980-c89b-244c397a20de |title=Dillon Radunz Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=July 7, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028032&DraftYear=2021 |title=2021 Draft Scout Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=July 7, 2022}}
}}
=Tennessee Titans=
Radunz was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite news |last=Wyatt, Jim |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Titans Select North Dakota State OL Dillon Radunz in Second Round of NFL Draft |work=TennesseeTitans.com |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-select-north-dakota-state-ol-dillon-radunz-in-second-round-of-the-nfl-dra |access-date=May 8, 2021}} On May 13, Radunz signed his four-year rookie contract with Tennessee.{{Cite web|last=Boclair|first=David|date=2021-05-13|title=Five Draft Picks Signed Ahead of Rookie Minicamp|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/gm-report/tennessee-titans-2021-draft-picks-caleb-farley-dillon-radunz-contracts|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-05|website=Sports Illustrated Tennessee Titans News, Analysis and More|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513221550/https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/gm-report/tennessee-titans-2021-draft-picks-caleb-farley-dillon-radunz-contracts |archive-date=May 13, 2021 }} He made his first career start at left tackle in Week 16 in place of an injured Taylor Lewan. He appeared in 12 games during the 2021 season.{{Cite web |title=Dillon Radunz 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RaduDi00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Radunz entered the 2022 season as a backup guard behind Aaron Brewer and Nate Davis. He appeared in 11 games at both guard spots due to injuries, and made four total starts.{{Cite web |title=Dillon Radunz 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RaduDi00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL on December 22, 2022.{{cite web|title=Titans Sign QB Josh Dobbs to 53-Man Roster While Placing OL Dillon Radunz on Injured Reserve|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-sign-qb-josh-dobbs-to-53-man-roster-while-placing-ol-dillon-radunz-on-inj|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=December 21, 2022}}
Radunz played 16 games with 11 starts for the 2023 season.{{Cite web |title=Dillon Radunz 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RaduDi00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Coming into the 2024 season, Radunz was named the starting right guard. He left the Week 1 matchup early, against the Chicago Bears, with a bruised rib. Through his first six games, Radunz allowed one sack, and committed two penalties.{{cite web|title=Titans Seeing Improvement from Veteran OL|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/news/tennessee-titans-brian-callahan-reacts-calvin-ridley-rant|author=Brener, Jeremy|website=Si.com|date=October 17, 2024}} Radunz finished the season with 15 starts, missing two games due to injury.{{Cite web |title=Dillon Radunz 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RaduDi00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On March 24, 2025, Radunz signed with the New Orleans Saints on a one-year contract.{{Cite web|title=Saints agree to terms with OL Dillon Radunz on a one-year deal|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/saints-agree-to-terms-with-ol-dillon-radunz-on-a-one-year-deal|access-date=March 24, 2025|website=nbcsports.com|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/players-roster/dillon-radunz/ New Orleans Saints bio]
- [https://gobison.com/sports/football/roster/dillon-radunz/8476 North Dakota State Bison bio]
{{New Orleans Saints roster navbox}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Dillon Radunz—awards, championships and honors
|list=
{{2017 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{2018 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{2019 NDSU Bison football navbox}}
{{Tennessee Titans 2021 draft navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radunz, Dillon}}
Category:People from Becker, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:Sportspeople from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:North Dakota State Bison football players
Category:New Orleans Saints players