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Full name: Michael Anthony Munoz Jr. ... Elected team captain
again for 2004 season ... Munoz and teammate Kevin Burnett are first Vols since
J.G. Lowe in 1924-25 to be elected captain in consecutive years ... Fifth-year
senior started every 2003 game at left tackle and has started all 37 games in which he has played in during his career ... Considered early entry into 2004 NFL Draft, but decided to return
for final season ... Sound technician with good knowledge of football ... Excellent
pass blocker with strong leverage in run blocking ... Last year, Munoz and teammate
Kevin Burnett were first juniors to serve as Tennessee captains since All-America
guard Bob Dobelstein in 1944 ... Earned second team All-SEC honors from league
coaches in 2003 and named Academic All-SEC for second consecutive year ... Currently
working on master's degree in public administration ... Showing signs
of becoming dominant blocker ... One of team's fiercest competitors who
fought through number of injuries in 2002 but missed only one game (Miami) ...
Excels at pass blocking, with outstanding movement and use of hands ... Has
overall ability to one day play at NFL level where his father, Anthony, enjoyed
Hall of Fame career with Cincinnati Bengals ... One of two student-athlete members
of NCAA Sports Wagering Task Force ... Married to former Emily Jones of Cincinnati
... Coach Stephens' evaluation: "Michael has to be one of the top offensive
linemen in the country. He excels in all areas in terms of knowledge, pass blocking
and run blocking." ... Born: July 31, 1981.
HONORS - 2003 All-SEC Coaches (2nd), Academic All-SEC;
2002 All-SEC Coaches (honorable mention), CoSIDA Academic All-District IV (2nd),
Academic All-SEC; 2000 Freshman All-America Rivals.com and The Sporting News
(2nd), Freshman All-SEC The (Knoxville) News Sentinel CAREER -
Games/Started: 37/37 ...
2003 - Games/Started 13/13 ... Earned second team All-SEC honors from
league coaches and named Academic All-SEC for second consecutive year ... Elected
as team captain ... Munoz and teammate Kevin Burnett were first juniors to serve
as Tennessee captains since All-America guard Bob Doblestein in 1944 ... Started
every game at left tackle ... Named to Playboy Preseason All-America squad ...
2002 - Games/Started: 12/12 ... Made strong return to lineup after
sitting out 2001 season following knee surgery ... Earned honorable mention
All-SEC by league's coaches for field play and CoSIDA Academic All-District
IV for classroom excellence ... Started 12 games at left tackle ... Missed Miami
game because of ankle infection ... Solid blocker both in passing and running
situation ... Helped lead way in Vols' final scoring drive against South
Carolina as Tennessee continually ran to his side during 17-play drive ...
2001 - Redshirted season with knee injury ... 2000 - Games/Started:
12/12 ... Rivals.com first-team Freshman All-America and The Sporting News second-team
Freshman All-America ... The (Knoxville) News Sentinel Freshman All-SEC ...
Munoz became first Vol true freshman to start opening game since Bill Mayo broke
in at guard in 1981 ... As first-team right tackle, worked to protect quarterbacks
and clear path for Travis Henry's record-setting runs ... Bruised elbow in South
Carolina game, playing in first half only, but bounced back to start following
week against Memphis and in all subsequent games ... Earned praise from head
coach Phillip Fulmer for quickly absorbing lessons of line play ...
HIGH SCHOOL - Received Bobby Dodd Award for most outstanding lineman
in country from Atlanta Touchdown Club ... A Parade, SuperPrep and PrepStar
first team All-America selection ... Gatorade 1999 Player of the Year in Ohio
... Three-time All-State, All-Region and All-District selection ... Named first-team
All-America by Dick Butkus Football Network ... Recorded 109 pancake blocks
during senior season ... Graded out at 91 percent on offensive line ... Paved
way for his prep team to reach state championship game in 1997 and playoffs
in 1999 ... Did not allow sack in three years as starter on offensive line ...
Also snapper on special teams ... Set varsity records in shot put and discus
at Moeller ... Coach at Moeller High School: Steve Klonne.
