Laremy Tunsil

Laremy Alexander Tunsil (born August 2, 1994) is an American football offensive tackle. He currently attends the University of Mississippi in his freshman year. He graduated from Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida, in 2013. Tunsil was regarded as the best offensive tackle of his class.^[1]

High school career

A native of Lake City, Florida, Tunsil attended Columbia High School, where he played football and competed in track & field as a shot putter. In football, he was an All-American offensive lineman. Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Tunsil was listed as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect of his class.^[2] He played in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He credits his development as an offensive tackle to going up against his Columbia teammate, Timmy Jernigan, in practice.^[3] "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.^[4]

Recruiting

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 2012 five-star OT recruit D. J. Humphries.^[5] For a long period of time he was believed to be leaning towards Georgia, since the Bullsdogs started true freshman John Theus at right tackle in every game in 2012, and Tunsil hoped to do so at left tackle in 2013.^[3] 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 set his announcement to be 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, who had spent a prep school year at Fork Union Military Academy before enrolling at Virginia Tech.^[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 sack.^[9] Following the Rebels' 34–24 victory over 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]

References

External links

• Laremy Tunsil on Twitter
• Ole Miss Rebels bio