The Bills drafted a guy last season who was heavily involved in community work while excelling as a college football player in Harrison Phillips. Dalton Risner's close with the defensive tackle, and started his own foundation while at Kansas State: Rise Up. Risner's work earned him a spot on the Good Works Team. But as soft-hearted as he may be off the field, Risner is literally making a chance on it.
"Growing up, I don't do it anymore, but I'd get on the field and I'd flip a switch and I just turn into a different person. I make jokes with my dad, I say that I black out and wake up at the end of the game and I'm back to myself and I don't know what happens. It's just something I believe great football players do. If you're going to be a nice guy off the field and talk about being mild-mannered and cool guy, when you get on that football field you have to have that switch. Offensive linemen aren't nice on the field. You got to be nasty and bring that edge to you,” said Risner.
Risner clearly fits the Bills culture. He can play all over the offensive line, getting First-Team freshman All-America honors at center before moving to right tackle, where he wrapped things up at K-State as a Second-Team All-America. You've heard him use McBeane buzzwords like nasty and edge, and adds another in how to handle himself amongst the team.
"The first thing is I'm not going to lead right away. I'm going to earn their respect on that offensive line, I'm going to earn that respect of that team first. And when I earn that respect then I'll start being a leader. I've got to earn that respect from the locker room first. But as soon as that respect is earned I plan on becoming a leader and helping my teammates around me and that's what a guy wants in a football player. Someone that pushes you to get better and isn't out there just for himself,” said Risner.
Risner's met with the Bills at both the Senior Bowl and Combine, a pattern we've seen from draft picks under the Beane-McDermott tenure. May be tough, as Risner's rising into the late first round conversation.
Our next Prospect Profile will look at Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill.