Marcus Murphy is Mizzou's 35th All-American
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou football earned its 35th All-American in program history when senior TB/KR Marcus Murphy (DeSoto, Texas) was named to the Scout.com All-America First Team as a kick returner, announced Thursday (Dec. 11). He is the Tigers' second All-American this season and ninth under head coach Gary Pinkel. Murphy was joined on the team by junior DE Shane Ray (Kansas City, Mo.), who was named a Walter Camp All-American yesterday. Mizzou was one of just five teams nationally to place multiple players on the Scout.com All-America First Team.
Murphy, who was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year by the league's coaches earlier this week, put together an impressive season as a senior. An All-SEC First Team performer, Murphy emerged as one of the nation's most dangerous return men. He ranks second in the SEC in all-purpose yards per game (131.9) and he is the only player in the nation this season to score via all four all-purpose categories: rushing (4), kickoff returns (2), punt returns (1) and receiving (1). He had a game for the books at Florida (Oct. 18) when he scored a kick return TD, a punt return TD and a rushing TD. His two return TDs in that game were the sixth and seventh of his career, a new school record.
Ray has been no stranger to postseason awards as this is his second All-America honor this season after being named a Walter Camp First Team All-American Thursday (Dec. 11). He led the SEC in sacks (14.0) and total tackles for loss (21.0) and reset Mizzou's single season sacks record this season. He was already named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and the league's coaches. Ray is third nationally in both total sacks and tackles for loss and finished fifth on the team in total tackles with 61.
The Tigers are off from practice until this Saturday, when they begin on-field preparations for the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against Minnesota, set for Jan. 1st in Orlando, Fla. For more information about the Citrus Bowl, please visit the official site of the Citrus Bowl, at www.buffalowildwingscitrusbowl.com.
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