Radunz, Cox Compete in Reese's Senior Bowl
2/1/2021 12:00:00 AM | Football
Offensive tackle Dillon Radunz wore No. 75 for the National team coached by the Miami Dolphins staff, and linebacker Jabril Cox wore No. 19 for the American team coached by the Carolina Panthers staff. The National team won 27-24.
Radunz, who graduated from NDSU in December 2020, was named the Overall Practice Player of the Week for his performance leading up to the game.
Congratulations to North Dakota State OL Dillon Radunz on being named the "Overall Practice Player-of-the-Week" at the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl. Last year's winner was LA Chargers QB and NFL Rookie-Of-Year Justin Herbert. 🏆 #TheDraftStartsInMobile pic.twitter.com/gqUdJCaHxb
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 30, 2021
Pro Football Focus graded Radunz second among all offensive players at the Senior Bowl.
Highest-graded offensive players at the Senior Bowl
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) January 31, 2021
1. Kellen Mond, A&M QB: 91.1
2. Dillon Radunz, NDSU OT: 83.4
3. Michael Carter, UNC RB: 80.3
4. Shi Smith, SC WR: 73.4
5. Robert Hainsey, ND G: 71.9 pic.twitter.com/vrahUr79Nc
Radunz played in NDSU's only game of the 2020 fall season before beginning his professional training. He was the first player invited to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl and accepted the invitation in a surprise announcement by Bison head coach Matt Entz in the postgame locker room on Oct. 3.
Postgame in the locker room, Coach Entz got to share some good news with Dillon Radunz.
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) October 3, 2020
He's going to the @seniorbowl. pic.twitter.com/gPGm7J8DV9
Cox, who graduated from NDSU in May 2020, transferred to play his final collegiate season at LSU. He was the third-leading tackler for the Tigers (5-5) during the fall 2020 season with 58 total tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss plus three interceptions and five pass breakups.
At Senior Bowl, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah on former NDSU OLB Jabril Cox: "When you talk to the guys down at LSU, they said it was like he's been here for five years, he was only here for six months. But he immediately fit in, became kind of a leader on the defense." pic.twitter.com/IrUXFPeGPJ
— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) January 30, 2021
Cox is one of three Bison expected to be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft along with Radunz and quarterback Trey Lance, a sophomore who declared his intent to begin a professional career after NDSU's win over Central Arkansas in October.
Before the year, LSU linebacker (and NDSU transfer) Jabril Cox had legit 1st round buzz.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 28, 2021
I think he leaves the Senior Bowl having re-established himself as a top 40 player in this class.
Excellent size, athleticism and coverage chops.
Radunz and Cox bring North Dakota State's total number of Senior Bowl participants to 10, including eight since the program's move to Division I in 2004:
- 1985 - Stacy Robinson, WR
- 2002 - Lamar Gordon, RB
- 2008 - Mike Dragosavich, P
- 2014 - Billy Turner, OT
- 2016 - Joe Haeg, OT
- 2016 - Carson Wentz, QB
- 2018 - Nick DeLuca, LB
- 2019 - Bruce Anderson, RB
- 2021 - Jabril Cox, LB
- 2021 - Dillon Radunz, OT
