Laremy Tunsil

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Laremy Tunsil
refer to caption
Tunsil at the 2020 Pro Bowl
No. 78 – Houston Texans
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1994-08-02) August 2, 1994 (age 27)
Harvey, Louisiana
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:313 lb (142 kg)
Career information
High school:Columbia (Lake City, Florida)
College:Ole Miss
NFL Draft:2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13
Career history
  • Miami Dolphins (2016–2018)
  • Houston Texans (2019–present)
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Pro Bowl (2019, 2020)
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (2016)
  • 2× First team All-SEC (2014, 2015)
  • Kent Hull Trophy (2014)
  • Second-team All-SEC (2013)
  • USA Today High School All-American (2012)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2021
Games played:77
Games started:77
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Laremy Alexander Tunsil (born August 2, 1994) is an American football offensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Mississippi.

High school career[]

A native of Lake City, Florida, Tunsil attended Columbia High School, where he played football and competed in track and field as a shot putter. He was a two-time All-State offensive lineman for the Tigers football team. Tunsil credits his development as an offensive tackle to going up against defensive lineman Timmy Jernigan, his Columbia teammate, in practice.[1] "He's always trying to get better every day. He's strong and he's fundamentally sound. He's got all the tools you need to be one of the best," said his high school coach Brian Allen.[2] In his senior year, Tunsil helped Columbia High School rush for 275 yards per game en route to the FHSAA Class 6A state quarterfinals, where they lost 28–21 to Navarre High School.[3] After the season, Tunsil played in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Tunsil was listed as the highest ranked offensive tackle prospect of his class.[4] Tunsil had offers from every major BCS program, including every SEC school. From early on, he made depth chart, i.e. the possibility of starting as a true freshman, one of his priorities. He eliminated his home-state Florida Gators early in the process, because the Gators had signed five-star offensive tackle D. J. Humphries from the previous class.[5] For a long period of time, Tunsil was believed to be leaning towards Georgia, since the Bulldogs started true freshman John Theus at right tackle in every game of the 2012 season, and Tunsil hoped to do so at left tackle in 2013 as incumbent starter Kenarious Gates was graduating.[1] But after a visit to Ole Miss in late January, Tunsil reportedly changed his mind and was considered a "done deal" for the Rebels.[6] Tunsil made his announcement on National Signing Day on ESPNU, where he indeed committed to Ole Miss.[7]

College career[]

At Ole Miss in 2013, Tunsil played every game, starting all but four games—Vanderbilt, Southeast Missouri State, Alabama, and Auburn. He was one of only two true freshmen serving as his team's full-time starting left tackle, the other being Virginia Tech's Jonathan McLaughlin.[8] Tunsil had his first start against Texas, competing against Longhorns defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, who finished the game with only three tackles and no sacks.[9] Following the Rebels' 34–24 victory over SEC West rival Arkansas, Tunsil was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, after helping the offense piling up 531 total yards and a near-school record 428 passing yards.[10] Tunsil earned SEC All-Freshman honors by the league's coaches, and first team Freshman All-American honors by The Sporting News,[11] after allowing only one sack throughout his freshman season.[12]

As a sophomore, started at the left tackle position in all 11 games that he played in, only missing the Auburn and Presbyterian games due to a partially torn bicep.[13] Tunsil was back in the starting line-up for the Peach Bowl, but fractured his fibula in the first half when quarterback Bo Wallace fell on the back of his right leg.[14] After the season, Tunsil was named All-SEC by the Associated Press.

In June 2015, before his junior season, Tunsil was accused by his stepfather, Lindsey Miller, of having accepted improper benefits from sports agents. Coach Hugh Freeze decided to bench Tunsil for the season-opener against Tennessee–Martin on September 5, as a “precautionary measure.”[15] Tunsil was suspended by the NCAA and missed the first seven games of the season.[16] He was reinstated before the #15 Texas A&M game on October 24.[17] His matchup with defensive end Myles Garrett, who entered the game with 8+1⁄2 quarterback sacks, was highly anticipated. According to analysts Tunsil emerged as “the big winner,” not giving up a sack and helping the Rebels to a 23–3 upset win over the Aggies.[18] Having missed the first half of the season, Tunsil was not selected to any All-American team despite solid performance. During the Sugar Bowl game against Oklahoma State, Tunsil had a two-yard rushing touchdown as time expired in the first half. Ole Miss won the Sugar Bowl, 48–20.

Professional career[]

Laremy Tunsil to me is going to be the best left tackle in the league, or one of the top two, within three years.

— NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein.[19]

Shortly after Ole Miss's bowl game, Tunsil announced his decision to forgo his final college year and enter the 2016 NFL Draft.[20][21] In February, a number of mock drafts projected him to be the No. 1 overall selection by the Tennessee Titans.[22][23] NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein compared Tunsil to All-Pro offensive tackle Tyron Smith.[19] After an outstanding performance in offensive line drills at the NFL Combine,[24] Tunsil further established himself as the No. 1 draft prospect.[25][26][27] On April 14, the Titans announced a trade of their first overall draft pick to the Los Angeles Rams,[28] who were widely believed to be looking for a quarterback rather than an offensive lineman,[29] and eventually selected quarterback Jared Goff out of California.

Ten minutes before the draft was set to begin, Tunsil's Twitter account showed a video of him wearing a gas mask and smoking a substance from a bong.[30][31] Although Tunsil's agent Jimmy Sexton immediately explained that the account was hacked, it resulted in some teams taking Tunsil off their draft boards entirely. The Baltimore Ravens (at No. 6) and Tennessee Titans (at No. 8), both in need of an offensive tackle, passed over Tunsil and chose Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin, respectively.[32] The Miami Dolphins eventually selected him with the 13th overall pick.[31] In a parallel incident, Tunsil's Instagram account published a screenshot of a text requesting money from Ole Miss assistant athletic director John Miller for rent and so Tunsil's mother could pay her electric bill. During a post-draft press conference, Tunsil admitted that he took money from an Ole Miss coach while a member of the school, but explained his Instagram account had also been hacked.[33]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5 in
(1.96 m) 		310 lb
(141 kg) 		34+1⁄4 in
(0.87 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 28+1⁄2 in
(0.72 m)		 9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		 34 reps
Values from NFL Combine.[34] Broad, Vertical and Bench from Ole Miss Pro Day.[35]

Miami Dolphins[]

On April 28, 2016, the Miami Dolphins selected Tunsil with the 13th overall selection in the 2016 NFL draft.[36] He was the highest selected offensive lineman for the Dolphins since Jake Long went first overall in 2008, and the highest drafted Ole Miss player since linebacker Patrick Willis went 11th overall to the San Francisco 49ers in 2007. On May 6, 2016, it was announced that Tunsil had signed a $12.45 million, four-year contract with the Dolphins.[37] As a rookie in the 2016 season, Tunsil played in 14 games, 13 of those at the left guard position. He helped the Dolphins to finish with the ninth best rushing offense in the league. After the 2016 season, veteran left tackle Branden Albert was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, making room for Tunsil to move to the left tackle position for the 2017 season.

On April 18, 2019, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on Tunsil's contract.[38]

Houston Texans[]

On August 31, 2019, Tunsil, Kenny Stills, and a fourth-round pick were traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, Johnson Bademosi, and Julien Davenport.[39] He started 14 games at left tackle in 2019, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

On April 24, 2020, Tunsil signed a three-year, $66 million contract extension with $57.85 million guaranteed with the Texans, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in terms of annual value.[40]

On October 16, 2021, Tunsil was placed on injured reserve after undergoing thumb surgery.[41]

Personal life[]

Tunsil was arrested on domestic violence charges in Oxford, Mississippi, after an altercation with his step-father Lindsey Miller on June 25, 2015.[42] Miller claimed the incident stemmed from an argument about Tunsil "riding around with agents," while others claimed Tunsil acted in defense of his mother.[43] Later, Miller met with Chris Howard, the NCAA's director of enforcement, accusing Tunsil of NCAA rules violations, which triggered an NCAA investigation that resulted in Tunsil's suspension for the first seven games of his junior season at Ole Miss (see above).

References[]

  1. ^ a b Weiszer, Marc (January 5, 2013). "310-pound offensive tackle recruit eyeing Bulldogs". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Long, Corey (May 16, 2012). "Five-star OT Laremy Tunsil not fazed by recruiting process". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "Columbia Tigers playoff journey ends with 28–21 upset loss to Navarre High Raiders". Lake City Journal. December 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com offensive tackles 2013".
  5. ^ "Time to turn the page on Tunsil, Florida fans".
  6. ^ "Laremy Tunsil a 'done deal' to Ole Miss?". Jackson Clarion Ledger. February 1, 2013.
  7. ^ Keeney, Tim (February 6, 2013). "Laremy Tunsil to Ole Miss: Rebels Land 5-Star OT Recruit". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Ole Miss OL Laremy Tunsil makes early impact". Clarion Ledger. November 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "Ole Miss freshmen living up to the hype". ESPN. September 25, 2013.
  10. ^ "Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil honored by SEC". The Mississippi Press. November 11, 2013.
  11. ^ Matt Hayes. "Freshman All-Americans: Jameis Winston, Myles Jack lead the way". Sporting News.
  12. ^ "Barely in his 20s, Mississippi OT Laremy Tunsil is already a star". FOX News. August 8, 2014.
  13. ^ "Rebels return three of its stars to practice". The Clarion-Ledger. October 28, 2014.
  14. ^ "Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil breaks leg in Peach Bowl". The Clarion-Ledger. December 31, 2014.
  15. ^ "Ole Miss benching Laremy Tunsil because of NCAA process". Clarion Ledger. September 5, 2015.
  16. ^ "Ole Miss' Laremy Tunsil suspended 7 games, will be back for Texas A&M".
  17. ^ "Laremy Tunsil's return to help Rebels vs. Texas A&M". Clarion-Ledger. October 22, 2015.
  18. ^ "Ole Miss LT Laremy Tunsil quiets A&M's Myles Garrett in 2015 debut". CBSSports.com. October 24, 2015.
  19. ^ a b Goodbread, Chase (February 5, 2016). "Zierlein: Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss is NFL's next Tyron Smith". NFL.com.
  20. ^ "Ole Miss Rebels OT Laremy Tunsil will enter the NFL draft". ESPN.com. January 4, 2016.
  21. ^ "Ole Miss star LT Laremy Tunsil declares for the 2016 NFL Draft". CBS Sports. January 4, 2016.
  22. ^ "Mock draft 2.0: First-round outlook after Super Bowl". USA Today. February 8, 2016.
  23. ^ "2016 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting first two rounds". Sports Illustrated. February 10, 2016.
  24. ^ Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss, OT): 2016 NFL Combine Highlights on YouTube
  25. ^ "2016 NFL Mock Draft: Post-combine breakdown of Round 1". Sports Illustrated. March 2, 2016.
  26. ^ "Post-Combine NFL mock draft: Who's rising and who's falling?". FoxSports. March 3, 2016.
  27. ^ "The Times' NFL mock draft: Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil goes first". Los Angeles Times. March 6, 2016.
  28. ^ "Rams picking first overall after major trade with Titans". ESPN.com. April 14, 2016.
  29. ^ "Rams leaning toward picking Jared Goff; Carson Wentz also an option". ESPN.com. April 14, 2016.
  30. ^ "Laremy Tunsil Falls in N.F.L. Draft After Apparent Drug Video Surfaces". New York Times. April 29, 2016.
  31. ^ a b "Laremy Tunsil slides to Dolphins at No. 13 after gas mask tweet". ESPN. April 28, 2016.
  32. ^ "Sources: Video kept Ravens from drafting Laremy Tunsil with No. 6 overall pick". ESPN. April 30, 2016.
  33. ^ "Laremy Tunsil says he took money from coach at Ole Miss". ESPN. April 28, 2016.
  34. ^ "NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Laremy Tunsil".
  35. ^ "*Laremy Tunsil - Mississippi, OT : 2016 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile".
  36. ^ Kellenberger, Hugh (April 28, 2016). "Laremy Tunsil falls to Dolphins after bong video". Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  37. ^ "Tunsil signs $12.45 million, 4-year contract with Dolphins". Big Story. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  38. ^ "Dolphins Exercise Fifth-Year Option On Laremy Tunsil". MiamiDolphins.com. April 18, 2019.
  39. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 31, 2019). "Dolphins fire sale sends Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills to Texans". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  40. ^ Maya, Adam (April 24, 2020). "Texans' Laremy Tunsil signs 3-year, $66M extension". NFL.com.
  41. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (10-16-2021)". HoustonTexans.com. October 16, 2021.
  42. ^ Khan Jr., Sam (August 3, 2015). "Laremy Tunsil, stepfather drop cases against each other". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  43. ^ McMurphy, Brett (June 28, 2015). "Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil arrested after punching stepfather, source says". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.

External links[]

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