Kornacki: Bigger, Stronger Runyan Settling in at Left Tackle
10/9/2018 10:16:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The current starting offensive left tackle for the University of Michigan played safety and wide receiver as a high school freshman. Jon Runyan was 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds back then at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia.
But then he started growing, and by the time he reached Ann Arbor in 2015, he was up to 6-4 and 275 pounds, having helped lead the Hawks to consecutive state championships, earning first team all-state honors and a three-star recruiting rating.
It was slow going up the Michigan depth chart as he gained size and knowledge of a position group that was still relatively new to him. Runyan didn't play in a game as a true freshman, and he finally hit the field Oct. 22 of his sophomore season. He moved into a backup role in 2017, playing both guard and tackle, and earned his first start in the Outback Bowl.
Runyan, now 6-5, 310 pounds, won a starting position before this season and had a rough first game at Notre Dame. But he's steadily improved since the opener.
"Good progress," assessed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. "He's been healthy and is stronger this year. He's playing with a physical demeanor. He's always been athletic, but he's stronger at the point of attack and playing good football."
Runyan's father, Jon Sr., was an All-America offensive left tackle for the Wolverines in 1995 and was listed at 6-8, 299 pounds. There was no teammate as tall or who weighed more than him. But his son, though 11 pounds heavier, is the lightest starter on an offensive line that includes 350-pound right guard Michael Onwenu.
Still, Runyan's weight is now in line with the rest of his linemates. And, most importantly, his strength is greatly improved. He credits new strength and conditioning coordinator Ben Herbert for emphasizing one-arm and one-leg lifting repetitions that are more practical for athletes playing on the move.
"That strength is just a testament to Coach Herbert and his staff and what they've been able to do with us in a limited time," said Runyan. He noted that the added strength helps in "staying on blocks" and particularly in the running game, where "staying on your guy and driving him for as long as you can" is the key.
Where has his strength made a jump?
"I think it would definitely be from the single-arm dumbbell benches," said Runyan. "I'm hitting 200 pounds with one arm with the other arm free, and that's something I never imagined doing a year ago.
"We also do single-leg squats, and that was also something I never thought I'd be able to do. [Herbert] really emphasizes single-arm and single-leg lifts. In a double-leg squat, you're using all the major muscle groups. But you're not focusing on the smallest stability muscle groups. That builds those muscle groups and the larger muscle groups as well. In pass protection, you're pushing off with one foot, too, and so that helps with the explosiveness."
There is a slanted walkway the Wolverines travel up and down daily between the locker room, practice field and training facilities on Schembechler Hall's first floor and the offices, meeting rooms and dining commons on the second floor. Black-and-white portraits of every All-American from William Cunningham in 1898 to Maurice Hurst in 2017 line that walkway wall.
"There's definitely a lot of pressure that goes with that -- walking up there and seeing his face on the All-American wall," Runyan said of his father. "I try not to focus on that. Yeah, he's pretty much a household name here. But coming here I wanted to prove the point that I can be my own self and not be compared to him.
"Even though comparisons aren't fair, I knew that coming here I was going to have to face that stuff. So, I'm doing my part to try to make a name for myself."
His father was "hands off" on coaching him until his sophomore year in high school.
"I remember him watching 'Monday Night Football' with me and just whipping a football at me," said Runyan. "But it was just playing around. When I started getting serious, he started really coaching me up during my first year as an offensive lineman when I was a sophomore playing tight end.
"Then they asked me to play tackle. We had a spread offense and didn't use the tight end much. I put on 20 pounds in a few months to do that."
His father played 14 years in the NFL and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles' 75th Anniversary Team. He served New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives for four years before becoming the NFL's vice president of policy and rules administration two years ago.
"Dad always gives me consistent advice," said Runyan. "He'll text me before the game every week: 'Quick, short steps. Keep your shoulders low.' It's really helpful and helps me focus, and he adds new stuff every week that I need to bring into the game."
Runyan played both guard and tackle last season, and he said focusing on only left tackle has made a difference.
"It allowed me to develop more of a battle rhythm that I needed to feel confident," he said. "Last year, being a swing guy at guard and tackle, and not really knowing where you were going to be called into games, there's definitely some uneasiness associated with that.
"But knowing that I'm the starting left tackle at Michigan, there's a certain amount of comfort in knowing what you have to do and your assignments and fundamentals. That's really helpful."
Runyan (right) says he and Bredeson "have a non-verbal language now."
Runyan likes what new offensive line coach Ed Warinner brought to the group.
"He brings a different style, organization and attitude," said Runyan. "But he's a great coach and we all listen to what he says. Everybody believes in him, and that's a big factor."
While the blocking up front has improved, Runyan realizes consistency needs to be achieved.
"We're not where we need to be," said Runyan, adding that he wants to get the rushing average to no less than 4 or 4.5 yards per carry each game. The overall average is 5.1 per rush but was only 1.8 at Notre Dame. It's been at least 4.1 yards per carry in every game since.
The block M tradition of the Wolverines has produced 42 offensive linemen and tight ends over the past 49 seasons -- since the arrival of Bo Schembechler as head coach and Jerry Hanlon as his offensive line coach -- who have either been named a first team All-American or become NFL first-round picks or both. The elder Runyan is one of that group.
However, Michigan is looking to reassert itself at that position group. The Wolverines will host a Wisconsin team Saturday (Oct. 13) that had its offensive linemen featured in a regional cover story in Sports Illustrated's college football preview issue.
"You think of aggressive, downhill offensive linemen that are going to blow you three yards off the ball," said Runyan. "I think we're on our way to that. We're not there right now, obviously. But each week, we've been getting there faster and faster. So, that's something we'd be hoping we can do."
Runyan and left guard Ben Bredeson have teamed with tight ends to create gaping holes for tailback Karan Higdon with combination blocks this season.
"Ben and I have a non-verbal language now where we know what each other is going to do on every play," said Runyan. "So, we're developing that chemistry, and knowing where his body is going to be in combination blocks is real helpful."
Runyan said the Notre Dame game, when three sacks were allowed, showed him the need for personal and group pass-protection improvement. He said strides have been made there, and the No. 12 Wolverines have allowed only three sacks in the last four games.
"We learned from our mistakes in that Notre Dame game," said Runyan.
The No. 15 Badgers will provide the greatest challenge since facing the Fighting Irish, and the game will serve as a good gauge of progress. It's part of the process for a line and a lineman looking to become something special.
