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OL Thayer Munford (1st Team All B1G, 1st Team All-American, Las Vegas Raiders)

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INSIDER LOOK: ON AND OFF FIELD PROMISES PULL THAYER MUNFORD JR. BACK FOR FIFTH YEAR

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Despite an impressive senior season that elevated his NFL draft stock, Thayer Munford Jr. had a promise to keep — one that required him to stay in Columbus for another year.

The veteran left tackle announced Jan. 16 his decision to forgo the 2021 NFL draft and return to Ohio State for a fifth year. Munford said the motivation behind the decision was to graduate with his degree and prove he is the best offensive tackle in America.

“I made a promise to my mom I would not leave college without my degree, and I wanted to keep my word to my mother,” Munford said.

Munford said earning his degree will impact his life and his family, as he studies human development family services.

His mother, MeLisa Thompson, said Munford would be the first in his immediate family to graduate college.

“It would be overwhelming for me,” Thompson said. “That’s really a big deal and I’ve always told him that it would be wonderful for you to get your degree in college.”

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2021/02/...s-pull-thayer-munford-jr-back-for-fifth-year/
 
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Looking at all the statistics for Munford last year, I'm kind of surprised he came back. About the only reason I can think of is concerns of his back issues and wanting a full year of health to show the scouts. I know he's said it was to get his degree for mom and if so, that's laudable, but many go pro early and still get their degree. But I'll shut up now because I'm ecstatic to get Thayer back. Along with NPF coming back, we have the best bookend tackles I have seen since I've watched Ohio State that I can remember. Whoever wins the QB job is going to be one lucky guy.
 
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RB07OSU said:
Looking at all the statistics for Munford last year, I'm kind of surprised he came back. About the only reason I can think of is concerns of his back issues and wanting a full year of health to show the scouts. I know he's said it was to get his degree for mom and if so, that's laudable, but many go pro early and still get their degree. But I'll shut up now because I'm ecstatic to get Thayer back. Along with NPF coming back, we have the best bookend tackles I have seen since I've watched Ohio State that I can remember. Whoever wins the QB job is going to be one lucky guy.
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Just sayin': Maybe best bookend tackle tandem since this pair:

Rufus-Mayes.jpg


Rufus Mayes
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14

Dave-Foley.jpg


Dave Foley
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26

That 1968 team had a lot of good players......:oh:....:io:

images
 
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RB07OSU said:
Looking at all the statistics for Munford last year, I'm kind of surprised he came back. About the only reason I can think of is concerns of his back issues and wanting a full year of health to show the scouts. I know he's said it was to get his degree for mom and if so, that's laudable, but many go pro early and still get their degree. But I'll shut up now because I'm ecstatic to get Thayer back. Along with NPF coming back, we have the best bookend tackles I have seen since I've watched Ohio State that I can remember. Whoever wins the QB job is going to be one lucky guy.
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Korey Stringer and Orlando Pace?
 
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ScriptOhio said:
Just sayin': Maybe best bookend tackle tandem since this pair:

Rufus-Mayes.jpg


Rufus Mayes
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14

Dave-Foley.jpg


Dave Foley
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26

That 1968 team had a lot of good players......:oh:....:io:

images
Click to expand...
As far as draft picks go that might be as good as it gets, but the Buckeyes have had some amazing bookends over the years

my memory is getting pretty bad, so I might be off here, but didn’t the have John Hicks and Chris Ward in 73? And at some point weren’t Orlando Pace and Korey Stringer on the same OL?
 
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DaddyBigBucks said:
As far as draft picks go that might be as good as it gets, but the Buckeyes have had some amazing bookends over the years my memory is getting pretty bad, so I might be off here, but didn’t the have John Hicks and Chris Ward in 73? And at some point weren’t Orlando Pace and Korey Stringer on the same OL?
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Don't think Chris Ward and John Hicks played together at Ohio State:

In 1970, Hicks came onto the Buckeye scene and won the job as a starting tackle. He missed the last 6 games of the 1971 season due to a knee injury, and was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA. He rebounded to put together two spectacular seasons in 1972 and 1973.
NFL Draft: 1974 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3

Chris Ward: 2x All-American (1976, 1977)
NFL Draft: 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4

Orlando Pace (freshman) and Cory Stinger (junior) did play together in 1994:

Pace attended The Ohio State University, where he majored in business and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1994 to 1996. He was only the second true freshman ever to start on opening day for the Buckeyes football team. 2× Unanimous All-American (1995, 1996).
NFL Draft: 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1

Stringer decided to attend Ohio State University, where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1992 to 1994. His Buckeyes teammates included offensive tackle Orlando Pace and running backs Eddie George and Robert Smith. As a junior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.
NFL Draft: 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
 
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Well, I might be showing my age here...but the closest I have is the Stringer and Pace callback, and I was in elementary school when that happened. But I think Munford and NPF is going to give it a run at the best tackles we've had. They have the chance at being the best we've ever had.
 
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ScriptOhio said:
Don't think Chris Ward and John Hicks played together at Ohio State:

In 1970, Hicks came onto the Buckeye scene and won the job as a starting tackle. He missed the last 6 games of the 1971 season due to a knee injury, and was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA. He rebounded to put together two spectacular seasons in 1972 and 1973.
NFL Draft: 1974 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3

Chris Ward: 2x All-American (1976, 1977)
NFL Draft: 1978 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4

Orlando Pace (freshman) and Cory Stinger (junior) did play together in 1994:

Pace attended The Ohio State University, where he majored in business and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1994 to 1996. He was only the second true freshman ever to start on opening day for the Buckeyes football team. 2× Unanimous All-American (1995, 1996).
NFL Draft: 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1

Stringer decided to attend Ohio State University, where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1992 to 1994. His Buckeyes teammates included offensive tackle Orlando Pace and running backs Eddie George and Robert Smith. As a junior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.
NFL Draft: 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
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Not at all surprised that I remembered the 70s wrong. It's all a blur at this point.

Looks like Pace and Stringer might be the best Buckeye bookends, going by draft picks, but it's close.
 
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DaddyBigBucks said:
Not at all surprised that I remembered the 70s wrong. It's all a blur at this point.

Looks like Pace and Stringer might be the best Buckeye bookends, going by draft picks, but it's close.
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I don't know about close. One guy in that Stringer/Pace due was Orlando Pace.

All due respect to NPF & Munford but they, like 90% of high D1 & NFL tackles, aren't in Orlando Pace's zip code.

While I'm thinking about the 90's, I give you John Cooper's 1994 NFL roster:
  • Orlando Pace OT
  • Korey Stringer OT
  • Eddie George RB
  • Nicky Sualua FB (this was an important position in 1994 and Sualua was a monster)
  • Joey Galloway WR
  • Terry Glenn WR
  • Chris Sanders WR
  • Rickey Dudley TE
  • Bobby Hoying QB
Defense:
  • Shawn Springs
  • Craig Powell
  • Lorenzo Styles
  • Mike Vrabel
  • Matt Finkes
  • Marlon Kerner
  • Tito Paul
16 some odd NFL guys, including some all timers, and that asshole went 9-4.

He was remarkably incompetent.
 
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Jaxbuck said:
I don't know about close. One guy in that Stringer/Pace due was Orlando Pace.

All due respect to NPF & Munford but they, like 90% of high D1 & NFL tackles, aren't in Orlando Pace's zip code.

While I'm thinking about the 90's, I give you John Cooper's 1994 NFL roster:
  • Orlando Pace OT
  • Korey Stringer OT
  • Eddie George RB
  • Nicky Sualua FB (this was an important position in 1994 and Sualua was a monster)
  • Joey Galloway WR
  • Terry Glenn WR
  • Chris Sanders WR
  • Rickey Dudley TE
  • Bobby Hoying QB
Defense:
  • Shawn Springs
  • Craig Powell
  • Lorenzo Styles
  • Mike Vrabel
  • Matt Finkes
  • Marlon Kerner
  • Tito Paul
16 some odd NFL guys, including some all timers, and that asshole went 9-4.

He was remarkably incompetent.
Click to expand...

A fair point on the Pace comment, there's rarely an OL at the college level that's in his zip code. But the body of work that Munford and NPF put together this year was pretty incredible, and of course they'll have to back it up this year. Munford was damn near perfect this last year, but I suppose it was quite a short season. That said, I would be shocked if he didn't dominate again this season.

Was trying to get back to Thayer but I can't resist in commenting to echo what you said on Cooper and that roster... it's infuriating to look at that roster and know we didn't get a championship out of that team. Makes you appreciate the run of years with Tressel, Urban and Day.
 
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Jaxbuck said:
I don't know about close. One guy in that Stringer/Pace due was Orlando Pace.

All due respect to NPF & Munford but they, like 90% of high D1 & NFL tackles, aren't in Orlando Pace's zip code.

While I'm thinking about the 90's, I give you John Cooper's 1994 NFL roster:
  • Orlando Pace OT
  • Korey Stringer OT
  • Eddie George RB
  • Nicky Sualua FB (this was an important position in 1994 and Sualua was a monster)
  • Joey Galloway WR
  • Terry Glenn WR
  • Chris Sanders WR
  • Rickey Dudley TE
  • Bobby Hoying QB
Defense:
  • Shawn Springs
  • Craig Powell
  • Lorenzo Styles
  • Mike Vrabel
  • Matt Finkes
  • Marlon Kerner
  • Tito Paul
16 some odd NFL guys, including some all timers, and that asshole went 9-4.

He was remarkably incompetent.
Click to expand...

My gut tells me that Earl's 1984 team was equally bad in the talent to success ratio.
 
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ORD_Buckeye said:
My gut tells me that Earl's 1984 team was equally bad in the talent to success ratio.
Click to expand...

Apart from Flutie being awarded Byars’ Heisman because of one bad play by the Miami defense, my main memory of 84 was of a huge deficiency on the defensive line.

Cooper was a better recruiter. He recruited a lot of the 2002 NC
No matter how long he stayed, he never would’ve been in danger of winning his own NC

edit: ummmm.... hopefully Thayer will be rewarded for coming back by winning his own NC

edit II: “Bears”??? Bite me autocorrect
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Jaxbuck said:
I don't know about close. One guy in that Stringer/Pace due was Orlando Pace.

All due respect to NPF & Munford but they, like 90% of high D1 & NFL tackles, aren't in Orlando Pace's zip code.

While I'm thinking about the 90's, I give you John Cooper's 1994 NFL roster:
  • Orlando Pace OT
  • Korey Stringer OT
  • Eddie George RB
  • Nicky Sualua FB (this was an important position in 1994 and Sualua was a monster)
  • Joey Galloway WR
  • Terry Glenn WR
  • Chris Sanders WR
  • Rickey Dudley TE
  • Bobby Hoying QB
Defense:
  • Shawn Springs
  • Craig Powell
  • Lorenzo Styles
  • Mike Vrabel
  • Matt Finkes
  • Marlon Kerner
  • Tito Paul
16 some odd NFL guys, including some all timers, and that asshole went 9-4.

He was remarkably incompetent.
Click to expand...

I only said it was close because I specified judging based on draft picks

Judging based on watching them play...
I was in single digits age-wise for the 68 championship, so I won’t pretend to have an informed opinion there

Then again, Orlando was called the best lineman in the nfl for a decade and was by a very large margin the best that I ever saw play
 
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