2016 Season Countdown: #52 Jon Runyan, Jr.

2016 Season Countdown: #52 Jon Runyan, Jr.


July 21, 2016
Jon Runyan Jr 165x

Jon Runyan, Jr. (image via Maize and Blue News)

Name: Jon Runyan, Jr.
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 304 lbs.
High school: Philadelphia (PA) St. Joseph’s
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #75
Last year: I ranked Runyan #89 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.

Runyan was a little bit undersized when he entered college last year at 276 lbs., and he redshirted as expected. Michigan didn’t need a lot of help at offensive guard because Ben Braden and Kyle Kalis stayed healthy, and David Dawson was the first guy in at guard when someone was needed. That extra time was needed, but Runyan added weight pretty quickly. According to the spring roster, he added 28 lbs. since last year. When we saw him in the spring, he was winning sprints in the lineman group, and he held his own during the scrimmages against some pretty good defensive linemen. Runyan might end up playing some center by the time his career is finished, but for now, he appears to be the #4 guard behind Braden, Kalis, and Dawson. If that’s the case, he probably won’t be called upon for a heavy workload this year, but the coaches could get him some playing time to groom him for 2017 when there will be two open jobs at guard.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

4 comments

  1. Comments: 262
    Joined: 8/12/2015
    Painter Smurf
    Jul 22, 2016 at 12:00 AM

    I liked what I saw out of Runyan in the spring scrimmage. Particularly looked natural in pass protection, which stands out amongst some of his interior linemates who do not. Suspect he may be better than Dawson already. And I dont see Dawson factoring into the coaches’ plans. Kalis was begging to be yanked from multiple games last year, but they never gave Dawson another shot after he fell flat as a sub in the Utah game. I could see Drevno investing snaps in Runyan and Bredeson this season.

    • Comments: 6285
      Joined: 8/11/2015
      Lanknows
      Jul 22, 2016 at 5:44 PM

      Dawson’s been hurt. He still seems like the top sub on the OL – perhaps a starter if Newsome doesn’t improve fast enough. Not saying a freshman can’t pass him, just that it isn’t a foregone conclusion.

      • Comments: 3844
        Joined: 7/13/2015
        Jul 22, 2016 at 5:47 PM

        I would be very concerned if Dawson were installed as a starter. I have yet to see him show that he’s a starter-quality player. If he’s forced into heavy action, I think we might be in a bit of trouble. Newsome was better as a freshman in 2015 than Dawson was as a redshirt sophomore, in my opinion. Logan Tuley-Tillman was better, too. I think it’s very important for Michigan’s offensive line to stay healthy this year.

  2. Comments: 6285
    Joined: 8/11/2015
    Lanknows
    Jul 22, 2016 at 5:41 PM

    I hope this relatively optimistic assessment is validated. OL is the most questionable position on the entire roster and it only gets more tenuous next year. We need some of these underclassmen to step up. If Runyan is half the player his dad was, that would be a player Michigan can use.

    I like the rank for a guy who is likely the 8th or 9th linemen, but perhaps he will end up nudging ahead of a few guys.

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