Runyan Reflects on His Long Road to Adding to His Father's Legacy
12/29/2019 10:31:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The journey of a son following in his father's very big footsteps provides quite a challenge. He must earn his own respect and place in program history while dealing with comparisons that are tough to live up to.
Jon Runyan Jr. recalled arriving in Ann Arbor in 2015, the son of a Michigan All-American. He wasn't a sure thing -- a three-star recruit from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, where his father was an NFL Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Eagles.
He went straight to the scout team, where he learned just how tough it would be to become a starter while going against a host of future NFL defensive linemen in practices. The Wolverines went to the Citrus Bowl that year and beat Florida handily while Runyan redshirted, and they have returned to the same bowl game here for his final college game.
"It's crazy that that was five years ago," said Runyan, who will face Alabama in Wednesday's (Jan. 1) Vrbo Citrus Bowl. "I feel like it's all come full-circle for me. Five years ago, we were here in Orlando, practicing at the same high school, West Orange, and I can remember my mindset then and how miserable I thought I was. I was just trying to get through practices.
"And now I have this whole new appreciation and vitality, looking back at what I've accomplished since then. It's something I'm really proud of. I don't think many people have had the full-circle experience I've had. This is where I started and where I'll finish."
Junior didn't achieve the All-America status his father did in 1995, but he did become a two-time first team All-Big Ten selection -- something his father, who left with one year of eligibility remaining, only achieved once.
"I'm proudest of the legacy that my father left and me being able to add on to that," said Runyan. "You know, my dad was an All-American here, but he wasn't All-Big Ten twice. That's something I've added to the legacy."
Runyan blocks for Tru Wilson against Michigan State.
They became the only father-son combo to win Michigan's Hugh Rader Memorial Award as the team's top offensive lineman. The father won it in 1994, and son won it twice, sharing it this year with offensive guard Ben Bredeson.
"I don't think just of my own legacy," said Runyan, "but the legacy the offensive line left."
He's manned the left side of the line with Bredeson while Cesar Ruiz started at center and Michael Onwenu at right guard together the last two seasons.
"I'm proud of what we did," said Runyan. "We're up there with the best O-lines in the country, and being with these guys through it all makes getting up at 6 a.m. worth it. It's a legacy that is special for all of us, and we have a strong bond. It used to be a question mark, but these last two years, we've been a solid, consistent group."
Ed Warinner became their position coach two years ago and was instrumental in molding the group into a force with a zone-blocking scheme that "fit us well," according to Runyan.
"That propelled us exponentially," said Runyan. "It eliminated a lot of the TFLs (tackles for loss) and allowed us to run the play-action (passing). Throwing the ball is a lot easier when you run the ball really well. Coach Warinner has always put us in the right situations."
Junior went from 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds as a freshman to 6-5 and 321 as a fifth-year senior and became a beast for defenders to get past.
"You take your lumps here and there," Runyan said. "I was on the scout team my first two years and that's a rite of passage. That's really where you develop your toughness by the guys you're going against, guys who were NFL Draft picks. They made me a better player.
"I remember Willie Henry as one who stood out. And there were Ryan Glasgow, Bryan Mone, Mo Hurst, Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton. Watching them and the offensive linemen from back then and how they conducted themselves set me along this path and matured me. I saw how hard they went at everything and how detailed they were in film study and took notice of that, and now I'm trying to have that kind of presence for our younger players.
"It took me a while to grow and really understand football, and my head was spinning when I got here, trying to grasp all those concepts, and how some plays set up other plays, and the details necessary to compete at such a high level. And so I'm having all these flashbacks of coming full-circle and going from 18 to 22."
Runyan (front, from left), Bredeson, Ruiz, Onwenu, Mayfield, and Warinner celebrate Michigan's rivalry win over Michigan State.
He also excelled academically, graduating with a degree in sociology before entering the Rackham Graduate School to pursue a real estate development certificate along with classmate and starting outside linebacker Jordan Glasgow.
It's been a demanding pursuit.
"Me and Jordan were pretty much on the same schedule," said Runyan, who is eight credit hours short of the certificate. "We had to come in early for (football) meetings and get our film work done for football. Then we had to go to a collaborative planning class on North Campus at 1 (p.m.) and hustle down to Schembechler Hall in time for our walk-through. On Mondays we also had a finance class from 7 to 10 p.m., and that was kind of difficult (after practice).
"It was an interesting dynamic."
So, he's made both his father and mother, Loretta, proud in every way.
"They've always been there for me when I needed anything," said Runyan. "They text me, asking me how classes are going, making sure I'm staying on top of my school work and football work. My dad is always there as a resource whenever I need it. They've just been the best at supporting me, and I never felt like I was alone here, especially with my teammates."
Runyan with his parents, Jon Sr. and Loretta
His father played 14 seasons in the NFL, getting drafted by the Houston Oilers before becoming a Tennessee Titan and joining the San Diego Chargers after his Eagles years. Then he served four years in the U.S. House of Representatives as a New Jersey Republican before moving into the NFL front office three years ago as a vice president for policy and rules administration.
Now, having succeeded in the college legacy department, the son gets to follow his father into the NFL, projected by many analysts as a late-round pick. Once again, Runyan won't enter as an expected sure thing. But, remember that his father was a fourth-round selection.
"I didn't start my first game until the (Outback) bowl game of my junior year," said Runyan, who has 25 starts. "I didn't know if this whole NFL thing was going to work out, but the chips fell where they did, and when I had my shot, I took it and made the most of it for sure.
"Playing in the NFL has always been a dream of mine, and I've been watching the NFL since I was born. Having the opportunity now to do that, I'm going to focus next semester on training for the NFL and pro day. Whenever I'm done with football, I'm looking to come back and get (the certificate) and maybe a master's degree in business (MBA)."
His family, including two younger sisters, is scheduled to arrive in Orlando Monday (Dec. 30) for the game with ultra-talented Alabama.
"We think they're thick and stout like Iowa and Penn State," said Runyan, "and they're fast like Ohio State. They provide a huge challenge, but there's no doubt that we're up for it.
"What's going to decide it is not what their defense does. It will be our execution or lack thereof. We get our job done, usually at the end of the game we have more points on the scoreboard. So, that's what we're focusing on -- doing our part."
Runyan has indeed come full-circle -- not only in making his first and last bowl trips here, but also in doing his "part" to add to his father's legacy.
