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Thayer Munford NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Tackle
- School: Ohio State
- Current Year: RS Senior
- Height: 6'6"
- Weight: 320 pounds
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Thayer Munford Scouting Report
Standing at 6'6" weighing in at 320 pounds, he is a massive human being with a wide reach. His elite size is a big part of what makes his game so steady. Thayer has an elite wingspan that carries a great deal of natural strength and leverage. His length can be a great conduit for power in multiple phases. It can drive up the power of his punches as a pass blocker. Meanwhile, in the running game, Munford can use his length to anchor and direct players across the field.
Munford has the strength to punish rushers who sacrifice their balance by trying to bend and sink under his frame. Moreover, he has decent recovery athleticism for his size, as well as measured straight-line burst. The Ohio State OT likely won’t test as an elite athlete, but he has enough mobility to get by on the interior. And in a phone booth, his physical profile is imposing.
Munford’s hands are prevalent in his game. While he can further refine his usage a bit, his hands are clearly very calculated in pass protection. He hones in and counters rush moves with ease and can react quickly to moves that stack on top of one another. While they may not always be overly powerful, they are fast. Meanwhile, Munford’s hands and feet work well together, and that synergy keeps him balanced.
T.M. has strong footwork when encountering pressure. He keeps a wide base and keeps his feet active when awaiting the rush. When imbalanced, he can stay upright and recover. He doesn’t bend much at the hips, and he possesses some definite flexibility and absorption capacity. Munford also plays with good lean and pad level, particularly in pass protection. He has an active help mentality on the interior. He keeps his eyes up, stays alert, and triggers when he sees breaching rushers. Furthermore, he has the versatility to play tackle and guard; something NFL teams will value.
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Areas for Improvement
Thayer does have room for improvement basically his refinement is still a need, and his overall athleticism does raise a few questions. He shows stiffness as a lateral mover at times. He doesn’t always have the mobility to acquire the right angles as a run blocker in space. He also doesn’t have great change-of-direction ability when he needs to divert course. The Ohio State OT can get beat initially by more explosive defenders, and his offensive punches don’t always strike cleanly, minimizing the power generated.
Munford can better place his anchors at times. His grip strength doesn’t stand out as elite, as he doesn’t always latch on with his punches. His anchors are susceptible to rip moves. He can lose his balance against opposing power and by reaching before properly positioned. A tall player like Munford can’t play past his center of gravity. He can leave his torso open at times, making him vulnerable to bull rushes. That opposing power, when properly channeled, can be hard for him to deal with.
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Thayer Munford Career at Ohio State
At Ohio State, Munford got the chance to learn from renowned offensive line coach Greg Studrawa. It wasn’t long before Sturdawa’s teachings started to catch on. Munford suited up as a true freshman, playing 202 snaps on offense for the Buckeyes. That preview was enough for coaches to give him an extended role in 2018.
Munford entered the starting lineup in 2018. As it turns out, he hasn’t relinquished his starting job three years later. Through grueling Big Ten play, the College Football Playoffs, and National Championship runs, Munford remained Ohio State’s rock at left tackle. He’s played in 45 of 50 potential games over the course of his career, and he’s started 33 games since 2018.
2021 presented a change for Ohio State’s rock, however. Regarded as one of the best offensive tackles in the country after keeping the blindside clean for both Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields, Munford suddenly slid inside to left guard, while the highly-touted Petit-Frere made the move from right tackle to left tackle. Thus far, the change has gone well for Munford, who’s looked steady on the interior. Guard seems to be a better fit for him, and NFL evaluators may ultimately come to the same conclusion when the 2022 NFL Draft rolls around.
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Thayer Munford NFL Draft Player Profile
After scouting both Munford and teammate Nicholas Petit-Frere, it’s clear that Petit-Frere is a better NFL prospect. That’s a high bar for Munford to clear, though. Petit-Frere might legitimately be a Round 1 talent. Munford isn’t quite at that level.
Munford is still a good player. He has some minor operational inconsistencies, but more often than not, he’s a steady blocker with good balance, size, power, and hand usage. He’s not a great athlete, but he has the baseline mobility to function. And on the interior, where short-range blocking is more prevalent, he can shine.
Munford is likely a Day 2 prospect at best. His athleticism will cap his upside outside of Round 1. But in the middle rounds, the Ohio State OT translates well to the interior in the NFL. There, he could be a multi-year starter in power-oriented schemes. He may be somewhat limited as a motion blocker, but he has utility nonetheless.
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