Senior Gameday Program Feature - Marcus Murphy
10/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Marcus Murphy
By Walt Scher, Mizzou Strategic Communications
There may not be a more explosive and exciting player to watch for Mizzou Football this season than Marcus Murphy. The 5-9 offensive and special teams weapon from DeSoto, Texas, is hard to define as a player in any other way besides electric. He has scored touchdowns four different ways (punt return, kickoff return, rushing and receiving) in his career, and has seen his role in the offense change year-to-year.
Coming out of Texas as the No. 13 all-purpose back in the nation according to Rivals.com, Murphy was highly recruited and chose Mizzou over other schools including Ole Miss, Minnesota and Kansas. The family atmosphere at Mizzou was a big part of why Murphy became a Tiger, something you'll hear from nearly every player in the program.
Once on campus it was clear to coaches and fans that Murphy was going to be a Tiger great. His impact was felt immediately as he handled kickoff duties as a true freshman in 2010, compiling nearly 500 yards on 24 returns.
A shoulder injury led to Murphy redshirting in 2011, but that certainly would not slow him down for good. The year off allowed Murphy the chance to soak in more knowledge from his veteran teammates and coaches. Those veterans helped Murphy grow as a player and a person.
"There is an importance to watching film and paying attention to all the small details," Murphy said.
That year away from the action paid off for Murphy and Mizzou, as he bounced back by being named a Second Team All-American and First Team All-SEC performer as a return man in 2012. That year his four return TDs (3 punt, 1 kickoff) set a Mizzou single-season record.
Special teams is only part of what makes Murphy so special, although his returns may generate the most excitement. Murphy claims that he does not have a favorite way to find the end zone.
"All touchdowns are great, I really don't have a favorite, punt returns and kick returns are a little bit more exciting, I just focus on making plays, any touchdown is a good one," Murphy said.
With the Tigers consistently having two to three starting caliber tailbacks, it has allowed Murphy to stay fresh and healthy. With each year under his belt Murphy has been given more and more responsibilities in the offense and receiving more and more carries as a result. After rushing 46 times for 251 yards in his redshirt sophomore season campaign in 2012 Murphy doubled his carries (92) and more than doubled his yardage total (601) in 2013.
With teammate Russell Hansbrough splitting carries with Murphy this season, it has allowed the duo to feed off each other and help each other become better players.
"Definitely helps competition, we work hard every week to prove to ourselves and our coaches that we should be in the rotation or we should get a certain amount of carries," Murphy said. "It helps all of us feed off of each other, we all have similar but different running styles."
As a senior, Murphy has broadened his already very wide range of skills and has begun lining up in the slot as a wideout. Already with 12 catches for 109 yards, Murphy credits the other wideouts with helping him make the transition.
"They helped me be comfortable, learning the whole process of being an all-around player, playing a lot of different positions," Murphy said. "For example, when I moved to receiver all the guys in the receivers room jumped up to teach me the things they knew, different techniques I needed to know."
A motto that Murphy likes to take into his preparation may be the perfect way to describe himself as a player, a difficult thing to do.
"I focus on just trying to make my next game my best game." Murphy said.
Murphy certainly made sure of that in the Tigers' road clash with Florida this season. In a classic "Murph" performance, the senior gave Mizzou quick momentum after taking the opening kickoff 96 yards for his third career kickoff return touchdown and sixth return touchdown overall. That touchdown broke a tie Murphy held with former Tiger great and current Philadelphia Eagles wideout Jeremy Maclin for most combined return touchdowns in a career.
He was not done there as he added a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown later in the game to extend his record a bit and become the first Tiger to score a rushing touchdown and return both a punt and kickoff to the house in a single game.
Murphy will look to continue his football career next year in the NFL and certainly has the talent and speed to make an impact on an NFL roster. Once his football career winds down, Murphy would like to stay involved in sports and pursue coaching.
"I want to give back all the knowledge I've soaked in over the years, pass it down to the younger generation," Murphy said.
Murphy can change a game in a split second and had one last message for Mizzou fans as his time in Columbia comes to a close.
"I've enjoyed all the years in the past, but I just want to leave a mark, leave something that we will be remembered by, the 2014 Mizzou team. I just wanted to be one of the best playmakers that has come through Mizzou and raise the bar for the future teams and players that come here."
Murphy is certainly compact in size, but the bar has been raised much higher than his stature alone.
