Twenty-five Ohio State athletes, including four football players, will receive degrees from the university on Sunday.
Ohio State left tackle Thayer Munford, tight end Jeremy Ruckert, running back Master Teague and defensive back Marcus Williamson will all be among the graduates who earn diplomas from OSU on Sunday afternoon's summer commencement at Ohio Stadium.
Sunday will be an especially meaningful day for Munford, who chose to return to Ohio State for his additional year of eligibility primarily because he wanted to fulfill a promise to his mother that he would get his college degree.
Just a kid I always wanted to go to college and play football. I also told my mom that I will get my degree before doing anything else and I kept my promise. Today I got my degree at The Ohio State University and defeated the odds!! Thank you for all of your support. Go Bucks!! pic.twitter.com/jbKtAZ58CX
— Thayer Munford Jr (@TMunford75) August 9, 2021
Williamson, who is also back with the Buckeyes this season because of the extra year of eligibility given to all athletes by the NCAA, will be receiving his second degree from Ohio State – a graduate certificate in public management – after he already received his bachelor's degree in history last year.
Ruckert also gets his degree after choosing to stay at Ohio State for one more year even though he could have entered the 2021 NFL draft. Both Ruckert and Teague are graduating after just three years at Ohio State, and Teague was also invited by Ohio State president Kristina Johnson to speak at a private luncheon as an “exemplary” graduate.
Very honored! Thank you President Johnson and glory to God above! https://t.co/rfLt2oUzYe
— aster W. Teague III (@MasterTeagueIII) August 6, 2021
Other Ohio State athletes receiving degrees from the university tomorrow include men's basketball player Jimmy Sotos; Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Terefenko, who's one of eight Ohio State lacrosse players receiving master's degrees in kinesiology on Sunday; and women's track and field star Anavia Battle, who gets her degree just days after participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
| Athlete | Sport | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| THAYER MUNFORD | FOOTBALL | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE |
| JEREMY RUCKERT | FOOTBALL | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE |
| MASTER TEAGUE | FOOTBALL | COMMUNICATIONS |
| MARCUS WILLIAMSON | FOOTBALL | PUBLIC MANAGEMENT (GRADUATE CERTIFICATE) |
| JIMMY SOTOS | MEN'S BASKETBALL | ECONOMICS |
| TEVIN BROWN | MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK | EDUCATION (MASTER'S) |
| CHRISTOPHER CRANE | MEN'S HOCKEY | SPORT INDUSTRY |
| JEFFREY HENRICK | MEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| TRE LECLAIRE | MEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| RYAN TEREFENKO | MEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| ALEC VAN DE BOVENKAMP | MEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| DEVYN ETLING | MEN'S SOCCER | SPORT INDUSTRY |
| MATTHEW KILEY | MEN'S SOCCER | COMMUNICATIONS |
| BERNARD MELUS | PISTOL | ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING |
| JESSICA THOW | WOMEN'S FENCING | PSYCHOLOGY |
| ALEXANNE VERRET | WOMEN'S FENCING | ACCOUNTING |
| KAITLYN GILSON | WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS | COMMUNICATIONS |
| MARY KATE BONANNI | WOMEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| LIZA HERNANDEZ | WOMEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| KELSEY REED | WOMEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| JILLIAN RIZZO | WOMEN'S LACROSSE | KINESIOLOGY (MASTER'S) |
| ELIJAH CLEARY | WRESTLING | FILM STUDIES |
| HUNTER LUCAS | WRESTLING | SOCIOLOGY |
| EMALY VATNE | WOMEN'S SOCCER | EXERCISE SCIENCE |
| ANAVIA BATTLE | WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE |
