Thayer Munford is returning for a fourth season as Ohio State’s left initial striker.
Munford announced on Saturday that he will be in Ohio for another season, using the additional year of eligibility provided to all players by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m finishing what I started !! Time to get back to work pic.twitter.com/8dRDEPh9GH
– Thayer Munford Jr (@ TMunford75) January 16, 2021
After Munford accepted the Senior Bowl invitation in early December, it was widely expected that he would enter the 2021 draft of the NFL. Under normal circumstances, Munford would have run out of eligibility last season.
Having been Ohio State’s starting left striker for the past three seasons, he has played well enough to solidify himself as an NFL draft choice – especially last season, when Pro Football Focus ranked him as the fourth best offensive tackle Big Ten (behind three NFL draft choices in the first round), as they evaluate players
The top ten OT seasons:
1. Jack Conklin, MSU (’15) – 94.6
2. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin (’16) – 92.3
2. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa (’19) – 92.3
4. Thayer Munford, Ohio State (’20) – 91.8 pic.twitter.com/x4R75D4OlP– PFF College (@PFF_College) January 13, 2021
Upon returning to Ohio for another year, however, he is positioned to be one of the clear leaders of the 2021 Buckeyes, and he will have one more chance to try to win a national championship. After the Buckeyes’ 52-24 loss to Alabama in the national championship game on Monday, Munford was one of the last players to leave the field and seemed to accept the defeat as strong as anyone, and the defensive side Jonathon Cooper – who left the field with Munford after the game – said he told Munford to “get there next year”.
Going back to school will also give Munford the opportunity to be the first person in his family to earn his university degree, fulfilling a promise he made to his family and himself.
“For the past 4 years, I have been so close to raising that trophy, but I haven’t been able to,” said Munford in his ad. “I am coming back for another year to reach my goal and obtain my diploma that I promised my family and myself that I will graduate before I leave. I’m keeping my promise. ”
With the return of Munford, the state of Ohio should now return its two initial offensive tackles for 2021, as Munford will be the fourth year holder in the tackle on the left, while Nicholas Petit-Frere will be the second year holder in the tackle on the right. . Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, who were seen as the top candidates to replace Munford in the squad, can now be among the candidates to start guarding next season.