[jwplayer PlhSjNW0-XNcErKyb]
One of the most common questions that prospective NFL players are getting at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is ‘who is the best player you went up against?’ at the college level.
We’ve already seen elite Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills mention a Wolverines defender as the best pass rusher he faced above all else, now a Michigan tackle is getting similar praise from a conference foe.
Jon Runyan Jr.’s ascension from being a former three-star recruit to a player riding the bench to a two-time All-Big Ten left tackle is an astounding trajectory. He all but neutralized star Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, only allowing one QB hurry in The Game this year.
Star Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos had a little more success than Young did when Michigan traveled to Happy Valley this past year, but his statline still wasn’t anything to brag about, with five tackles and one-half tackle for loss. In 2018, Gross-Matos had one sack and four tackles against Michigan.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Gross-Matos said that not only was Runyan the reason for that, but that he was the toughest competition he faced at Penn State.
Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos says Michigan’s Jon Runyan Jr. was the best tackle he went against.
‘He was nice.’
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 27, 2020
Gross-Matos is seen as, at best, a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and, at-worst, a second-round pick.
Yet, Runyan, despite the accolades and the praise, isn’t getting nearly as much recognition, with some seven-round mocks having him going on the third day, if at all.