Chicago Bears: Why Dalton Risner is a ‘must draft’ prospect

Q&A with Dalton Risner

DaWindyCity (DWC): Thank you so much for joining us today. I know you’re extremely busy preparing for the NFL Draft, so we’ll jump right in. I want to talk to you about your Risner Up Foundation. It’s pretty remarkable for a student-athlete to set up a foundation like that considering all the demands placed on you. Tell me about your foundation and how that came about.

Dalton Risner (DR): In my time at K-State I figured out that helping people is a passion of mine. So while there I got involved with the Special Olympics. I was also a mentor there to a little guy who had ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), I spoke to surrounding schools, and loved getting involved in the community. However, I wanted it to be organized so I brought it all together with the Risner Up Foundation and it’s a foundation that inspires hope, change and positivity in a day where kindness and caring for others isn’t highly valued. We kind of are too focused on ourselves, so the foundation doesn’t have one cause — it’s just about making others smile, and making a positive impact on others’ lives and being a role model. Obviously, I have to make an NFL Club here but I have big plans for the foundation moving forward and hope I’m able to have a lot of impacts.

DWC: So you must be looking forward to having a larger platform once you get to the NFL to help reach more people?

DR: You’re exactly right. I love the platform I have now, but once I get to the NFL my platform will grow. So I hope I’m able to use that to be a positive role model and help people grow. You know, as athletes we need to realize how many eyes are on us each and every moment of every day. So many kids watch us and want to be like us, so I want to make sure they’re watching us do good.

DWC: It seems like public service is extremely important to you. How do you flip the switch from being a nice guy who serves his community to a mauler on the football field?

DR: Hey I really appreciate that, first off man, that’s awesome. You’ve obviously watched my tape and that means a lot. One thing I tell coaches that I meet is that I want them to wonder what was up with me during the game — was I mad or what — because when you play the game of football I’m not out there to make friends, I’m out there to get the job done. You know the greatest quote in football is “there’s no better feeling than taking a man from Point A to Point B against his will.” And not only doing that but putting him in the ground at the end. You know I just love the game and my dad taught me from an early age up to high school about flipping a switch when you get on the field. Off the field, you do all these wonderful things but when you get on the field you flip a switch and go to work, and I’ve kept that with me through the years. Almost like as soon as you touch the turf you flip the switch and say ‘ok, it’s time to go to work and get the job done’ and that’s what I take pride in.

DWC: Obviously the people you help through your work with your foundation get a lot out of the relationship, but what are some of the things you’ve taken away from those experiences and relationships?

DR: That’s a great question and I’m not sure I’ve ever been asked that. I’m glad you asked though because I’ve learned so much. When it comes to working with Special Olympians they teach you what we’re supposed to be down here on earth. Faith is so important to me and that’s something I try to be my best at every day. You know some people say they ‘feel bad for them’ but I laugh when I hear that because we think that they’re different but honestly I think we’re different. You know they wake up every day happy and smiling and they approach life with a positive energy and a charisma that is unreal. They light up a room when they walk in. They are honest, caring, humble and don’t judge anybody. They’re confident in themselves. They’re such great people and have taught me so much about how I want to attack my life every single day and helped me realize how much I have. Whether it’s my little buddy Kaden who has cancer and the way he attacks life every day — you know, he may never be able to play sports at a full capability, but he still approaches every day with a big smile on his face. He’s six-years-old and he’s been paralyzed and had cancer, but sometimes as players, we complain about workouts being too hard? Are you kidding me? Here’s a kid who is battling cancer that might never have this opportunity I have and be in this situation. Situations like that make you realize how blessed you are and how you should approach life. People think I’m the one impacting them, but they’re the ones impacting me.

DWC: Besides working with your foundation, what are some of your other off-the-field interests?

DR: I take a lot of pride in my family and my friends. I love my relationships and take pictures of what I’m doing to preserve those memories. So whether it’s hanging out with my friends, or family or teammates, I love that. You know I love good food, I’m an offensive lineman so I love good eats. So the three “Fs,” friends, family, and food — you can’t go wrong.

DWC: What is it like being on the verge of realizing a lifelong dream?

DR: It’s crazy. I’ve been doing my best to enjoy this process. You’re constantly getting evaluated and are extremely busy with visits, the Combine, training, and eating right and it’s easy to get lost in it but I’m trying to enjoy each day. You know I lived a dream of playing Division I football something that millions of kids want to do and I have a chance to go to the NFL, and I’m just so blessed and grateful to have that opportunity. Regardless of where I end up, I’m going to strap on that helmet and go live my dream. So I’m just so thankful for the position I’m in.

DWC: You had a really strong performance at the NFL Combine. What was that experience like and what did you take away from it?

DR: I appreciate it man, you know there are even things at the Combine I wish I did a lot better. You know the things you see on t.v. are probably the least important parts of the process at least for offensive linemen. The medical testing and drug testing is extremely important and the interviews with the GMs and head coaches, offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, O-line coaches, all the way down — those are extremely important. You know these decisions are hard and when the talent is equal sometimes it comes down to character and what kind of player fits our program. So the interviews are huge. But it was a blessing. I’ve watched the Combine for years as a kid so to be a part of it was great.

DWC: It seems like you ran a lot of inside zone and gap power schemes at Kansas State. Did you run a lot of outside zone as well?

DR: Yeah we did. So inside/outside zone was a big part of our run game, as well as power. Those were our three main run plays. So I have a lot of experience in those schemes.

DWC: You started your career at K-State at the center position, before moving to right tackle. You also got some looks at the Senior Bowl at left tackle, and both guard positions. Talk to me a little bit about your versatility and whether you think you’re better suited at one particular position.

DR: You know man, it’s crazy but I feel like I can play any position and be comfortable at any position at the next level. I feel like I’m a guard/tackle guy but also feel like I can play center. You know I’m a lot like Cody [Whitehair]. I’m around 6-foot-4 and 3/4, with long arms and am able to snap. I’m good at the mental side of the game, but what I’m getting at is it’s real hard to tell you one position and I think that’s a good thing. I feel like I can play all five line positions and that’s a good thing. In the NFL you only suit up seven offensive linemen on Sundays, so you don’t want guys who can only play one position. You don’t want to get in a pickle on Sundays so I think that’s something that’s really going to give me an edge and I hope coaches realize that.

DWC: What are some of the biggest challenges of staying proficient at so many positions?

DR: You have to practice those skills. To snap the ball is one thing. It’s funny, people think it’s not that hard but when you have a 400-pound man breathing down your neck and then you have to snap it and take a step and make the call that’s when it gets tricky. You have to be prepared mentally — knowing the playbook in and out — and being prepared to snap and block right away and handle big guys like that and knowing they’re not like defensive ends. Then you push out to tackle you have these guys that are quicker and faster, but maybe not as strong but still really strong, so it’s a whole different set. Center you don’t have a stagger and you have contact right at the snap. At tackle, you may even take three steps before you get contact so it’s a whole different kind of kick-slide whether it’s a vertical set or a jump set. And guard is a little bit in between but there’s a lot more pulling, and you have to know aiming points on pulls. I can go on and on but each position requires something and some skills are transferrable but others you have to work on to make sure you’re honed up at each position at the same time.

DWC: Jon Ledyard of the Draft Network said you have “some of the best mental processing [he’s] ever scouted in an offensive lineman.” Where does that come from? Is it mainly from scouting film, instincts, or something else?

DR: Football has been a part of my blood since I was born. My dad started the Pee-Wee football program when I was younger and coached me all the way up to high school. In high school, I would call the run play and the gap we were going through, I’d call out the defense, the attack side, and I’d call out the play. I was a student of the game. Having a dad as a coach you eat and breathe football. Then I got to Kansas State and I was a captain for three years and took control. And I know the offense in and out. If a coach presents an offense to me I’m going to know it inside and out. I take a lot of pride in knowing my opponent and knowing the gameplan. In the NFL everyone is talented and 50 percent of it is do you know your playbook, do you know your stuff, do you know what everyone else is doing? And that’s something I think it is going to give me an edge at the next level. And I appreciate John for knowing that and that’s awesome that he called that out.

DWC: You recently had your Pro Day on March 6th. How did that go?

DR: Pro Day went really well. It was right after the NFL Combine so I flew back to Manhattan [Kansas] and got after it right away. I  got to show guys how I move and even got some snapping in. I feel like I moved around real well and it was a great showing.

DWC: In your college career, you have faced some of really good edge rushers in this year’s NFL Draft (Jordan Brailford, Montez Sweat, and Charles Omenihu). In each of those matchups, you performed really well. How were you able to neutralize their pass rush so effectively?

DR: You know a lot of it is watching film and seeing what they’re good at. We had a breakdown on what they do in certain situations and you can watch these players’ tendencies and what they like. You know you go up against a Montez Sweat who has extremely long arms. Well, you have to get your hands on him. You have to be prepared to swat his hands down, you can’t be lunging. Then you go up against a Jordan Brailford, who doesn’t have as long of arms but he’s a powerful guy who tries to beat you with speed and agility so you have to outpower him. Just stuff like that. It takes a lot of time preparing and watching these guys on film. I’m a competitor. You know I’ll be beating guys like Montez Sweat and my technique isn’t there and I have to clean that up, but I’m beating the guy. And he’s likely a top-15 pick and I played really well against him not only this year but at the Senior Bowl. They’re all great players but it takes preparation and watching film and practicing your skills the whole week.

DWC: What do you think are some of your greatest strengths?

DR: The mental side of the game in terms of knowing football — the defense, the playbook, knowing all five positions, having the football IQ in terms of angles, first steps, and hand placement. The “chip” or “edge” I play with trying to put guys in the dirt. My work ethic and grit that I bring to the gridiron and my leadership are things I take pride in as well.

DWC: You think there’s an aspect of your game that is underrated?

DR: I think just my productivity. People will break you down and talk about the things you do wrong, like your technique or your pad level or your first step, or your technique on pass pro or run. And I agree you always can get better at that and at the next level you may not be able to get away with that but I’m telling you I produce. I went to Senior Bowl and went against the top defensive ends in the country and had no pressures and no sacks. I take a lot of pride in that. In the NFL, no matter what you do you have to produce. Don’t give up sacks, don’t give up pressures, protect your quarterback and make holes, make gaps.

DWC: I saw you mention in an interview how you’d like playing for an offense like the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bears have a pretty mobile quarterback as well in Mitchell Trubisky and run a scheme similar to Kansas City’s. How do you like blocking for a mobile QB and what are some of the challenges with that?

DR: Yeah so I met coach Nagy at the Combine and told him that I watched him in Kansas City and it was a pleasure. The Bears have a high-powered offense with a great quarterback and great offensive masterminds on their staff so to be a part of that would be great. It’s always great to play for an offense like that, that is going to drive down the field and put points up. It’s fun to play for a quarterback like Trubisky who can run and pass and seems to be a great leader as well.

DWC: So you were able to talk to coach Nagy at the Combine?  How did that meeting go?

DR: I had a formal meeting at the Combine and got to meet coach Nagy and coach [Harry] Hiestand, and the rest of the staff. They had me on the board and I showed them my football savvy and showed them that I know what I’m doing with my offense. We watched a little bit of film and they got to know me. It was just a pleasure man. It was an awesome time sitting in there with the coaches and getting to know them. I’ve watched coach Nagy all year and congratulated him on a great season and it was a pleasure to sit down with them.

DWC: So what were you’re impressions of coach Hiestand? Were you already familiar with him?

DR: Very familiar. I trained with Sam Mustipher, a center out of Notre Dame for a few months in Anaheim, California and he had an opportunity to tell me all about coach Hiestand. So I got a chance to shake coach Hiestand’s hand and tell him that I knew Sam. And he seemed like a football mastermind.

DWC: If you had a chance to talk to all 32 NFL general managers before the Draft, what would you tell them?

DR: I’d tell them what I bring to the table. I’m a 23-year-old that’s ready to be a professional athlete. I don’t have any baggage, I have my stuff in order. I’m ready to compete with grown men. I’m not interested in buying a new car and going out and partying or anything like that. I’m ready to go to work man. I’m going to go to work and know the playbook and have my stuff in line. And I hope every GM is aware of that but if I had the opportunity I’d tell them that.