The Cleveland Browns are well-known for the truth that their offensive line is elite. Offensive line coach Invoice Callahan can also be thought of the most effective at what he does as this group is a way of pleasure for the franchise.

The issues happen when any of the beginning 5 turn into injured and miss video games. GM Andrew Berry was on a mission to construct the second tier right into a extra productive group within the occasion that such tragedies happen. The very last thing this high-powered offense wants is for one man to decrease the extent of excellence they’re used to. It simply can’t occur.

One of many guys Berry signed to compete for a depth place is OT Hunter Thedford. In reality, Berry reduce seasoned veteran Joe Haeg to make room for Thedford.

Thedford (6’-6”, 305 kilos) is a former tight finish who was transformed to the offensive line. He was already a superb blocker, the query was whether or not he may transition to a sort out spot. He has arrived in Cleveland to make the ultimate roster and never be merely a “camp physique.”

He was a three-sport athlete in highschool and was named First Workforce All-APSE and a Two-Time First Workforce All-District. After his senior season, he was ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com. He went to SMU as a good finish. They transformed him to defensive finish for 2 seasons earlier than transferring him again to tight finish. He performed for the College of Utah throughout his senior season. At this level, he was 6’-6” and weighed 240 kilos. Thedford was named to the 2016 AAC All-American Workforce.

Thedford, age 26, went undrafted in 2020. He then performed for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL as a good finish. As soon as their season was accomplished, he signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Lions. From there he was with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos who had Thedford’s future operate as the first swing sort out as a follow squad member. Nevertheless, he was later waived from Denver with an damage settlement.

The Browns claimed him as an offensive sort out prospect and inked him to a reserve/futures contract in January. He has been married for nearly six years and has a four-year-old and a child simply six months previous, each women. His Twitter deal with is @hunterthedford.

Three components are in Thedford’s favor. For one, the membership didn’t re-sign Chris Hubbard who had been a roster member for 5 years and was the first swing sort out. Secondly, when Berry signed Thedford he launched Joe Haeg who was an eight-year veteran plus an FBS and Tremendous Bowl champion. And lastly, Cleveland may have signed any free-agent offensive lineman they wished and selected Thedford to come back in and compete for a backup position.

Dawgs By Nature caught up with Thedford on an off day to debate his position with the Browns.

DBN: You had been fairly the athlete at Comanche Excessive College. Two-Time First Workforce All-District in soccer, additionally earned All-District honors in basketball and All-District honors in golf. In basketball, you earned All-District Defensive MVP honors. How did you resolve which sport to pursue?

Thedford: Golf was somewhat too boring for me. The entire “strolling the course” factor I may by no means catch onto that. And typically it could take 8-9 hours to complete one spherical. With basketball, I may by no means keep in as a result of I fouled out on a regular basis. I assume soccer was the one possibility for me.

DBN: Quite a lot of massive males don’t do effectively in golf. What’s your handicap, and the way did you get entangled on this sport?

Thedford: Ever since I started taking part in professional soccer my handicap has gone down dramatically. I don’t play a lot anymore and it’s a sport that you need to preserve taking part in repeatedly to remain good at your sport. I’d say now, the handicap is 10-12, which isn’t like me. Now, I can exit and shoot 80s and luxuriate in a day of golf. My dad obtained me concerned once I was little he would drag me to the golf course. I didn’t play a lot and would exit and search for golf balls.

DBN: Being a Texas child, you grew up a giant Dallas Cowboys fan. Who was your favourite participant?

Thedford: Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware. I performed each tight finish and defensive finish in highschool and grew up watching these guys. Witten was such a frontrunner on and off the sphere and I all the time regarded as much as that. His late coach was one of many coaches within the USFL. So I used to be capable of discuss to him about Jason’s work ethic and the usual he set himself as much as. He was by no means the quickest, however his soccer information was so excessive. And he watched movie to know the protection’s holes. Witten had a quarterback who trusted him. When you get that bond, you are able to do a number of actually good issues.

Photograph by Alika Jenner/Getty Pictures

DBN: You performed tight finish at Comanche Excessive College, SMU, and at last Utah. While you signed with New England, did Invoice Belichick swap you to the offensive line?

Thedford: My agent and I had dialog and we felt it could be finest for my profession for me to achieve the load. After I obtained over 300 kilos, I obtained a full exercise with New England for the offensive line. I didn’t catch a single ball in my tryout. I used to be totally going after the sort out place.

DBN: The Browns at the moment checklist you on their web site as 260 kilos. How a lot do you weigh now?

Thedford: Most likely about 310. I hope to achieve one other 5 kilos earlier than coaching camp begins as a result of I do know you drop pounds in camp so that offers me a small buffer. I hope to play at 310, perhaps 315.

DBN: What was your USFL expertise like? What was the pay like? Bubble?

Thedford: It was a brand new league with a number of issues they had been nonetheless attempting to determine so far as the right way to conduct. I had a number of enjoyable with it. A buddy of mine was on the identical workforce. I had expertise as a result of on the finish of the day – it was soccer, and I used to be attending to play a number of soccer. Like 50-60 snaps a sport. There have been a few video games I used to be the one tight finish on the workforce. It was a number of enjoyable. My roommate quarterback Josh Love and I had our personal home and would cook dinner steaks on the weekend. They paid us $4,400 a sport with an $800 win bonus. All eight groups performed in Birmingham at two totally different stadiums. That newer stadium on the campus of UAB was a pleasant stadium. I used to be actually impressed with their amenities. The opposite stadium, Legion Subject, was actually cool with its historical past together with the quantity of Alabama-Auburn video games performed there.

DBN: You signed with Denver and left with an damage settlement. How did you find yourself with a hip flexor damage, and is that this fully healed?

Thedford: It was early one morning and we had already completed some soccer stuff principally conditioning. We had been short-cutting within the grass, which was nonetheless somewhat moist. I went to chop and my foot simply slide on that moist grass. It was an unlucky factor and kinda made me mad. It’s all the time robust when you could have an damage occur. Accidents are all the time going to occur, although. I’ve a number of respect for Coach (Sean) Payton and his teaching workers. I ended up leaving and obtained totally healed and was fortunate sufficient for Cleveland to name me. I’m tremendous enthusiastic about it.

DBN: The Browns are in want of backup tackles as veteran swing sort out Chris Hubbard was not re-signed. Do you see your self in place in Cleveland?

Thedford: It’s approach too early to inform. It’s straightforward to think about your self in a spot, however actually when the pads go on that’s the place you study loads about your self, your teammate, and your environment. It’s simply early to say I’m in a great place or a foul spot. I’m going to do my finest, work as arduous as I can, and present that I can hold with these guys.

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures

DBN: Now that you’ve gone by way of mini-camp, what’s your impression of O-Line coach Invoice Callahan?

Thedford: Earlier than getting right here, I heard a number of nice issues entering into. Off the bat, the primary day, I obtained a full expertise of it. The way in which he coaches he’s fired up 24/7. He has nice vitality, expertise, and information. He’s telling me about sure conditions within the sport that can assist me study. I’m actually, actually lucky to have a coach that has that a lot expertise and information particularly with me being new to the workforce. I’m nonetheless studying some offensive sort out strategies. I’m extraordinarily fortunate to be in a spot with Coach Callahan instructing me issues.

DBN: You might be considered as a developmental prospect with loads of potential to excel for those who can proceed progressing as a blocker. What are the subsequent steps it’s essential to take?

Thedford: Nothing that stands out, however as an entire studying the whole lot from my stance to the depth I’m taking as I set. Me being a good finish in my previous life has helped me with my run blocking. I’m doing a few of the identical stuff like reaching and cuts. It’s extra my move units that I’m centered on. I’ve to study to get actually comfy with that. Coach Callahan has already modified up a number of stuff with me, particularly strategies. This complete low season I’m doing a number of move setting each day, attempting to study the subsequent spot I’m attempting to get to and get as quick as potential with my ft. Work these strategies he despatched me out with.

DBN: You’re a Texas man. Cleveland has a number of actually good bar-b-que spots. Why is Texas bar-b-que totally different from the whole lot else?

Thedford: The way in which I see it, Texas bar-b-que is a mix of heavy vinegar, bar-b-que sauces, and overly candy bar-b-que within the combine. The mix is the trick with the salty and the candy coming collectively. That’s the ticket. I’m a giant Texas bar-b-que man. We did ribs and brisket yesterday.

DBN: Inform us about your exercise routine and your weight loss plan this time of 12 months.

Thedford: Proper now I elevate Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I situation two instances every week after which I simply do offensive line drills two instances every week. Quite a lot of restoration and stretching. With camp, you need to construct up your endurance. However you need to are available recent so that you don’t need to are available after maxing out all week prior. It’s a really delicate steadiness of constructing your self up, getting in form, preparing for camp, and on the identical time coming in recent. My weight loss plan is definitely fairly loopy. I’m nonetheless attempting to achieve weight. I’m a giant proponent of consuming late at night time and gotta have 9 hours of sleep. All of the restoration issues within the coaching room can examine to a full night time’s relaxation. And loads of meals. That consuming late will do it. I used to be 270 and in three months I obtained to 300 kilos. Quite a lot of protein shakes as effectively. At first, it wasn’t all clear weight which means a number of it was good muscle however a few of it wasn’t. Fortunately I used to be fairly lean as a good finish. I’m beginning to lean my physique to what I need it to be. Once I performed tight finish I used to be about 13% physique fats. Now as offensive line, I’m 19-20. I want to get all the way down to 18% which I believe is a very good proportion for an offensive lineman.

DBN: Do you miss taking part in tight finish?

Thedford: Some. I personally suppose I can go on the market and run routes. Who is aware of? Perhaps we will have a trick play and I sneak out the again door. I nonetheless run routes with my QB again residence. Only for enjoyable and conditioning. Nothing too loopy and preserve me sharp in case it ever occurs.

DBN: The Browns’ offensive line has a veteran presence with three Professional Bowlers. Your ideas?

Thedford: I believe it’s superior. I see the work ethic they bring about each day and the management. It’s a kind of issues the place you’ll be able to’t go fallacious. You see the instance and there’s no guessing. You see the recipe, the teaching, the gamers consider in it each day. And that’s the reason they’re Professional Bowlers. Plus they do it on and off the sphere. It’s a great place for me to observe, study and comply with.

DBN: Middle Ethan Pocic is understood for being very severe in video games and in practices. Is he going to have any points with you?

Thedford: Not one bit. I haven’t gotten to know all people on a private degree but, however I’m a smooth-going man. I’m easygoing. I don’t count on something however for me to fall proper into this technique.

DBN: This Browns’ offensive line group has been ranked Prime-3 within the league. What do you see as your contribution?

Thedford: I’m going to offer the most effective effort I’ve and contribute nonetheless I can. It doesn’t matter what it takes. All my job is to assist this offensive line. We’ll see as we play some video games what that position is. Proper now could be simply me working arduous and seeing the place all of it ends.