Inside linebacker Matt Muncy may be a history major, but he does not need a lesson in the history of Ohio football.
The Bobcats have not won a Mid-American Conference championship since 1968, and the redshirt sophomore seems strikingly aware of that drought. When asked about his career goals, he looks you in the eyes and answers without hesitation.
Before I'm done
I want a MAC Championship Muncy said.
With No. 50 anchoring the defense for the next several seasons, that just might be a possibility. Although Ohio's coaching staff might have expected Muncy to be a major contributor this year, it probably had not anticipated him emerging as a defensive leader in his first full season as a starter.
But through ten games, Muncy leads Ohio in nearly every defensive statistical category, having amassed 73 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two interceptions.
He amazes me sometimes fellow linebacker Ma'tron Church said. Muncy is Muncy -I can't take anything away from him. If anything
I want to try to do some of the things he's doing. He's an all-around player.
Recruitment
Despite hailing from Miamisburg, located less than an hour from Oxford, Muncy committed early to be a Bobcat, never giving much consideration to donning Miami's red and white.
Ohio recruited Muncy as a linebacker, though he had played running back and safety at Miamisburg High School.
We try to recruit big safeties as linebackers
Ohio coach Brian Knorr said. He's a step slow to be a back
but he's a fast linebacker. We knew he had decent size
but he's put on 30 pounds since then
so now he's a great combination of size and speed.
Muncy saw action in all twelve games last season, starting three and finishing fifth on the team with 53 tackles. However, he has truly blossomed during his sophomore campaign, particularly in a 34-0 shutout of Buffalo.
In the Sept. 25 game, Muncy returned a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown, intercepted a pass, had 15 tackles, forced a fumble and recorded a sack, earning him MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week honors.
In the ten years I've been here
it's definitely one of the best single-game performances I've seen
Knorr said. We haven't had production points like that out of one player.
Silver lining
As the saying goes, Every cloud has a silver lining.
For Ohio, that lining is players like Muncy, who were thrust into major roles last season when linebackers Dennis Chukwuemeka, Tyler Russ, Spencer Tatum and Hugh Grant suffered season-ending injuries.
Muncy, though, has managed to stay healthy and gain valuable game experience. He has seen the field in each of his first 21 collegiate games and never suffered a serious injury.
Our track record at inside linebacker isn't very good
but he's such a durable kid
