RICHMOND, Ky. – In today's world of college athletics with the ever-looming presence of the transfer portal, it is not an uncommon sight to see student-athletes transfer once, twice, and even three times in their collegiate careers.
 
The reasons for transferring are vast but often can be boiled down to student-athletes looking for what they at least think might be a better opportunity.
 
There are those, however, who stay. Through ups and downs that come for any collegiate student-athlete on and off the field of play. EKU found one such committed student-athlete in offensive lineman Vincent Munlin Jr.
 
A towering offensive lineman, who now seeks to reap the benefits of staying.
 
Born and raised as the youngest of four children in Cincinnati, Munlin was given a love for the game of football through his father Vincent Munlin Sr. who played college football at the University of Cincinnati.
 
"I began playing organized football in eighth grade, and originally thought I'd be a wide receiver," said Munlin. "The first practice I went out was running around catching passes, but the next day I showed up and they told me I was too big and going to be put on the offensive line."
 
In his sophomore season at Princeton High School, an injury to the starting right tackle gave the young Munlin the opportunity to start. An opportunity he seized starting every game for the rest of his high school career receiving all-league and team MVP honors in his junior and senior seasons.
 
Despite the success at the high school level, Munlin never viewed himself as a college prospect let alone for the Division I level.
 
"I really didn't think I would be playing football in college," said Munlin. "I was not your average size for an offensive lineman weighing at about 215 pounds at that time, usually they are looking for guys that are closer to 290."
 
That perspective changed, however, after being spotted by the Colonel coaching staff and others at a prospect camp going into his senior season in 2019.
 
Munlin was given his first opportunity to flip from EKU that coming off-season as the coaching staff that had recruited Munlin was being replaced by now-head coach Walt Wells.
 
"When the coaching change situation happened, Eastern Illinois actually called and tried to swoop in and flip me," said Munlin. "I was supposed to actually go on a visit to EKU, but ended up visiting Eastern Illinois instead that weekend because I didn't know who the coaches were going to be at the time. The next week we found out it wascoach Wells, and he reached out and told me he still wanted me to come on a visit."
 
That visit and conversation with Wells was all the offensive lineman needed to know he had found where he belonged.
 
"I liked what he was talking about, his plan, and what he could offer me in his knowledge of offensive line play," said Munlin. "I ended up committing right there on the spot and was Wells' first commit as the head coach at EKU."


 
Munlin then made the short trip to Richmond from Cincinnati in 2020 for his freshman year at right tackle weighing in at a modest 238 pounds…He now stands at six feet and six inches, and weighs 299 pounds.
 
"I've been moved around a lot in my time here, but I've just fallen in love with this place," said Munlin. "I backed up Payton [Payton Collins] for a while at tackle, I played two weeks at tight end, and then we obviously had Josiah Ezirim on the left side so there were a lot of talented guys on our line."
 
After two seasons at tackle as a backup, Munlin never flinching from the work or in his desire to be a Colonel got an opportunity to start at guard ahead of the 2022 season.
 
"We were so close to the season when we had a guy go down, and they told me they were moving me to guard which I had never played before," said Munlin. "That was a trip man, I was kind of thrown into the fire learning a new position, and on top of that I had to go against some dogs on the other side in practice like T.K. McClendon., but going at guys like that helped me learn and get ready quickly."
 
With all the uncertainty and changes early in his career, one could almost expect a student-athlete in his position to possibly look for opportunities elsewhere, not Vince though.
 
"I had my doubts early on," said Munlin. "I had my parents though and I leaned heavily on them and they just kept telling me, 'You got this, keep going'. They gave me the confidence that I could handle and overcome all these changes and challenges that came with staying."
 
Overcome those challenges he did, being an anchor on the line for EKU in 2022 as the Colonels' high-flying offense led the team to an ASUN Conference Championship and the program's first FCS Playoff appearance since 2014.
 
He followed the breakout season on the line with another strong season in 2023 as the Colonels posted the most offensive yards per game in the United Athletic Conference that season at 437.4 per game.
 
The Ohio native's journey came full circle in this his final season returning to his original position of right tackle.
 
"It's been a ride here at EKU," said Munlin. "I've definitely learned a lot and grown not just as a player, but as a person here. Something I have truly appreciated in my time here is the honesty from Coach Wells. He didn't tell me anything when I got here about starting right away or anything like that, he actually told me I wasn't going to start initially, and I appreciated that upfront transparency. That's the kind of coach you want."
 
The pair's commitment to each other and the process has borne fruit on and off the field as Munlin continues to be a leader for the team on and off the field currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Leadership and Management.
 
"Trust at the end of the day is what these years have been built on," said Munlin. "I think trust is something that is lacking in today's world. I'd be lying if I said I never had my doubts about being here, especially with all the changes, but as an offensive line group we trusted in the program and ourselves to keep punching because we love this program and each other."
 
It is that trust and belief that Munlin will carry with him far beyond his time here in Richmond, and when he does eventually leave he will be a champion, on and off the field proving the old adage true… "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions".