2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Byron Murphy was a 4-star prospect out of Desoto High School in Desoto, Texas. He had 20 offers before committing to Baylor in June of 2020. Before the year was over he would decommit from Baylor. In November of 2020, he would commit to Texas.
During his freshman season with the Longhorns, he immediately made an impact. He gains two total sacks. But more impressively Murphy had 10 total run stops with 11 total pressures.
In his sophomore season, he saw a snap count increase by nearly 60 total snaps. He found more success when adding pressure behind the line of scrimmage. Murphy had 19 total pressures with 16 QB hurries. Sadly, he only had one sack.
Year over year Murphy continued to improve. His junior season was no different. An increase in snaps came allowing him to gain 40 total pressures! Of those pressures, 5 turned into sacks. Plus, he had 19 run stops! This triumph would earn him an invite to the Senior Bowl.
Measurables
Height: 6’1” (10th-percentile)
Weight: 308 lbs (82nd-percentile)
Age: 21.3
Class: Junior
NCAA Statistics
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| 2021 | Texas | Big 12 | FR | DL | 7 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2022 | Texas | Big 12 | SO | 13 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| *2023 | Texas | Big 12 | JR | DL | 14 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | Texas | 32 | 38 | 70 | 15.0 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Athletic FREAK! Weighs over 300 pounds but has been clocked hitting 18mph!
- Explosive. Beats the blocker off the line allowing him to cause immediate pressure once the ball is snapped.
- Great strength and balance to counteract double teams, but also bullies blockers in the direction he wants.
- Agile enough to squeeze between the blockers allowing him to get into the backfield.
- Versatile athlete who can be effective in multiple defensive schemes.
- High IQ. Knows how to properly adjust at the line based on the movement he may see happening.
- High motor! Always on the go.
Weaknesses
- For an interior lineman, he might be slightly undersized.
- Effective against the run going through him, but struggles to hit from an angle.
- His strength of overpowering blockers sometimes causes him to overshoot the play.
- Displays good hand movements, but may struggle against bigger well rounded guards.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late First Round
Ideal Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have picked 27 via the Houston Texans. They also have multiple holes to fill across both sides of the ball. A solid start for them would be to fill up the middle of their defensive line. Arizona needs a trustworthy run-stopper between the tackles. Murphy gives 110% on every play. His strength plus speed is what they need to cause chaos to opposing offenses. Stopping the run starts with him. Draft him. Then they could use other picks to build around a natural leader up front.
