Buckeyes entrust captain Thayer Munford with 'Block O' jersey
COLUMBUS — The newest Ohio State tradition has its second recipient: Thayer Munford has been awarded the Block O jersey honor for this football season.
A one-time underrated recruit and now potential first-round NFL draft pick on the offensive line, Munford has worked to become a leader for the Buckeyes throughout his career.
Just one week after being named a team captain, the fifth-year senior was announced as the next player to be given the honor on social media Saturday.
Munford is the second Buckeyes player to be awarded the Block O jersey. The tradition was started last season, and the program picked then-senior leader Jonathon Cooper.
Now Munford has his chance to represent the award on the other side of the ball, although he won’t be able to actually wear No. 0 on the field since he’s an offensive lineman. He’ll still be wearing No. 75 but will have a distinction of being the pick for the coveted jersey number.
The NCAA approved the use of zero on jersey numbers last April, and Ohio State decided to make it a privilege to wear the jersey. Buckeyes director of football operations Quinn Tempel drew the comparisons in the zero in the font used for the program’s jerseys to the famed Ohio State Block O logo, making it a fit for a new annual tradition.
“It really should come from the offseason program and who has put years into the program and who has been through some adversity, who has worked through some things, who has fought through things and really lived our culture,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day told Lettermen Row last season. “With everything that’s gone on this year and the great tradition that Ohio State has, how can we now create something that can be new? We thought naming the award after Bill Willis would be a great decision because it’s great way we can honor him. So, then you ask who it should be?”
Cooper was the first answer to that question. Now the Block O is switching to the offensive side, and another fifth-year senior leader is the recipient.
Thayer Munford earned it with five years of dedication to the program.
