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Reese’s Senior Bowl 2019: 10 NFL Draft prospects to watch

By John Mitchell

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Will Grier #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 17, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State upset West Virginia 45-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Will Grier #7 of the West Virginia Mountaineers leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on November 17, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State upset West Virginia 45-41. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Dalton Risner put together an excellent career at Kansas State, and his versatility and mauling ability in the run game should see him selected at the end of the first round or early on in the second barring a good week at the Senior Bowl.

The Wildcats certainly don’t run a pro-style offensive system as they lean more on the run game, so it will be interesting to see how Risner holds up in pass protection in Mobile. He did well in some one-on-one situations against Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat earlier in the season, but he does have some issues with his footwork that could cause some issues against pure speed rushers on the outside.

Risner is a big, strong guy who won’t get pushed around by bull rushers, which is why he likely projects to shift inside to offensive guard in the NFL. He struggles a bit at getting out of his breaks with his first step in pass protection, which could be exposed against some of the elite edge-rushing talent that made the trip to Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Risner will also turn 24 before the start of the season so he may not have the upside as some of the younger offensive linemen in this draft class. He still projects as a 10-year contributor in the NFL, so I’m not sure his age will be much of an issue as long as he can refine his technique and put together a strong Senior Bowl.

Risner isn’t a flashy guy, which makes his performance in Mobile all that more important. He’s not going to run an eye-popping 40-time or blow people away in any of the individual drills at the combine; Risner is simply a football player, and his game when the pads are will speak a lot louder than when he’s running around in shorts.

A big week could solidify Risner’s standing as a first round pick. Even if he struggles, he’s too talented to fall past the second day of the draft.

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