Dillon Radunz was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round.
Lance, Radunz and Cox all find homes in the NFL
With the conclusion of the 2021 NFL draft, the Bison saw three former players get drafted. NDSU’s draft class was headlined by star quarterback Trey Lance, while offensive lineman Dillon Radunz and linebacker Jabril Cox were drafted as well.
To the surprise of many, the San Fransisco 49ers selected Lance with the third overall pick. For weeks it had been thought that Mac Jones was the pick, however, they chose the quarterback who many experts think has the highest ceiling in the class in Lance.
Lance will go into arguably the best situation out of all the rookie quarterbacks, as head coach Kyle Shanahan is highly respected around the league for his offensive mind. The Niners also boast an elite offensive line, along with high-powered weapons such as star tight end George Kittle. While Jimmy Garrapolo is still on the roster, if Lance is ready to play, don’t be surprised if he is named the starting quarterback.
NDSU also became the ninth school to have multiple quarterbacks drafted in the top 10. It’s no surprise that they are the only FCS school in this grouping, as they joined the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson among other top college football powerhouses.
The next Bison off the board was Radunz as the Tennessee Titans selected him in the second round, 53rd overall. With Lance and Radunz off the board, NDSU became the first non-FBS school to have multiple selections in the first two rounds since Jackson State in 2000, and the first non-Power Five program since 2017.
Finally, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Cox in the fourth round, No. 115 overall. Cox spent three seasons with the Bison before transferring to LSU where he played his final college season. He had a monster year for the Tigers as he had 58 tackles and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
Cox will join a talented linebacker group in Dallas, as they have Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylen Smith and their first-round pick Micah Parsons.
While winning championships is great, it’s just as fun to see these players advance to the next level and achieve their dreams of playing in the NFL.