The future stars of Ohio State football officially begin their college careers, as standouts from all over the country put pens to their National Letters of Intent.
Massillon Washington four-star offensive tackle Thayer Munford had been holding out hope for an offer from Ohio State. The moment it came, the 6-foot-6, 320-pounder announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.
#Select17 #BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/r5aW1547Oc
— Thayer Munford (@Big_Grizze62) February 1, 2017
Munford, who took an official visit just two weeks ago, is considered the 14th-best prospect in the state and the No. 28 offensive tackle in the Class of 2017. He holds 16 offers from programs such as Alabama, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Pitt and Tennessee, but none of those mattered once Ohio State came calling.
The Munford File
- Class: 2017
- Size: 6-foot-6, 320 pounds
- Pos: OT
- School: Massillon Washington (Massillon, OH)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 28 (OT)
Munford nearly missed all of his senior season after transferring from Cincinnati La Salle, as the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled his move a violation of recruiting bylaws.
Massillon head coach Nate Moore, who was previously at La Salle, assumed legal guardianship of Munford over the summer, but Bylaw 4-9-4.8 states a coach cannot have any contact with a student-athlete at his former school after taking another job.
After a lengthy appeals process — during which Munford's mom said the move gave her son a shot a better life on and off the field — a deal was struck to allow Munford to play Week 8 and beyond. The only condition was Munford had to score at least a 2.0 grade-point average in the fall quarter.
He was declared eligible and played in four games for the Tigers last season.
Munford becomes the 21st member of Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class, which already includes a pair of five-star offensive linemen in Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis. Davis is projected as a guard, and Myers — while listed as a tackle — may very well end up on the interior part of the line, as well.
Munford also penned a letter to Buckeye Nation on National Signing Day:
