(670 The Score) During his college career as an offensive tackle at Michigan, Jon Runyan Jr. could always turn to his father, 14-year NFL veteran tackle Jon Runyan Sr., for advice. Sometimes it would be in the form of a simple text message. Often, it would be a more detailed conversation.
Before Michigan's game against Nebraska in 2018, Runyan Jr. reached out to his father about blocking a particular defensive front as it was presented on film. Runyan Sr. responded to his son on FaceTime, lining up as a tackle against his daughter as the four-technique. His wife held the iPhone to carefully present the right angles for Runyan Jr.
"There's nothing you can do to make up for that," Runyan Jr. said at the NFL Combine in February.
"I had one of my better games that game, too."
Runyan Jr. is now eyeing his NFL dream and looking to have the kind of career that his father enjoyed.
A two-year starter at Michigan, Runyan was a two-time All-Big Ten selection at tackle but projects to play guard at the next level. He stands 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds, boasting the genetics and technique of his Pro Bowl father.
Having a former NFL tackle for a father helped Runyan Jr. learn how to truly absorb watching film.
"I'd just got done playing, I come down stairs, he'd be sitting there watching my Hudl tape, writing down notes for me," Runyan said of his father. "It was really helpful."
Runyan is projected to be taken on the third and final day of the draft but could receive greater consideration than usual given the unusual circumstances. With teams unable to scout lower-level prospects during the coronavirus outbreak, some expect there to be a bias toward players who competed at a higher level of college football.
The Bears need to add depth on their offensive line, and the versatility of Runyan to shift between guard and tackle will be attractive to Chicago.
So too will the pedigree that Runyan has in hailing from a football family that helped foster his journey to becoming a talented NFL prospect.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
