Pre-Draft Analysis
Murray is a rangy inside linebacker with excellent closing speed and good stopping power. He has the burst to shoot gaps and disrupt plays in the backfield. There's room for improvement when it comes to winning with his hands, but he flashes as a pass-rusher and is effective at spying quarterbacks. Murray is a natural leader with a professional work ethic. -- Steve Muench
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A four-star recruit out of Missouri City, Texas, Murray exploded on the scene for the Sooners in 2017 as a Freshman All-American, Co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and 14-game starter (78 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack). He stepped forward as a sophomore, ranking third in the FBS with 155 tackles (12.5 for loss, four sacks) and garnering second-team all-conference accolades. While his tackle numbers were down (102 total stops), Murray's playmaking ability shone through for the Big 12 champions as a junior, with Murray collecting 17 tackles for loss and four sacks as well as four pass breakups in 14 starts. He earned third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors for his efforts. Murray is the son of a preacher and takes pride in helping his parents raise three adopted siblings with special needs.
Overview
Sleek, playmaking linebacker with chiseled frame and long arms. Murray's game is predicated on speed with an ability to fly around from sideline to sideline rolling up tackles. While his twitchy burst allows him to make more plays than the average linebacker, he will overflow to ball-carriers at times. Recognition of play development and ability to take on blocks are both underdeveloped currently, but a move to weak-side linebacker would put him in position to minimize those concerns and maximize his playmaking talent. Murray has hit-or-miss qualities and is more splashy than consistent, but he's immensely talented with the ability to imprint on games on all three downs.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Murray is a rangy inside linebacker with excellent closing speed and good stopping power. He has the burst to shoot gaps and disrupt plays in the backfield. There's room for improvement when it comes to winning with his hands, but he flashes as a pass-rusher and is effective at spying quarterbacks. Murray is a natural leader with a professional work ethic. -- Steve Muench
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A four-star recruit out of Missouri City, Texas, Murray exploded on the scene for the Sooners in 2017 as a Freshman All-American, Co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and 14-game starter (78 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack). He stepped forward as a sophomore, ranking third in the FBS with 155 tackles (12.5 for loss, four sacks) and garnering second-team all-conference accolades. While his tackle numbers were down (102 total stops), Murray's playmaking ability shone through for the Big 12 champions as a junior, with Murray collecting 17 tackles for loss and four sacks as well as four pass breakups in 14 starts. He earned third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors for his efforts. Murray is the son of a preacher and takes pride in helping his parents raise three adopted siblings with special needs.
Overview
Sleek, playmaking linebacker with chiseled frame and long arms. Murray's game is predicated on speed with an ability to fly around from sideline to sideline rolling up tackles. While his twitchy burst allows him to make more plays than the average linebacker, he will overflow to ball-carriers at times. Recognition of play development and ability to take on blocks are both underdeveloped currently, but a move to weak-side linebacker would put him in position to minimize those concerns and maximize his playmaking talent. Murray has hit-or-miss qualities and is more splashy than consistent, but he's immensely talented with the ability to imprint on games on all three downs.
Strengths
- Playmaking speed to mark up a stat sheet
- Very decisive and willing to take chances
- Runs and moves like a safety in space
- Fires into gaps and can put offenses behind the chains
- Averaged nearly 15 tackles for loss over last two years
- Can make all the tackles if kept clean
- Weaves and rolls downhill to close the distance on running backs
- Ridiculous range from sideline to sideline
- Instant burst to the ball from a standstill
- Scrape speed to stay square to the line of scrimmage
- Can spy, blitz or rush off the edge on passing downs
Weaknesses
- Needs to temper urgency with additional patience
- Misdirected out of position multiple times by same play against Kansas State
- Instincts and fit recognition are spotty as inside linebacker
- Desire to make plays clouds judgment on angles
- Must improve strength and hand usage for take-on duties
- Can be erased from gaps by a square block
- Needs to play with better balance and control as open-field tackler
- Hard flows turn to overflows
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