Archive up til Game 1 of 2008

The big question still in training camp is whether sophomore running back DeMarco Murray is totally healthy or not.
Recently OUESPN.com caught up with Murray following Tuesday’s practice to find out how things were going at training camp,
Click here for the interview

OU Media Day, August 6
Coach Stoops on DeMarco Murray:
"DeMarco Murray has a chance to be a really special player and he is just such a good athlete. It is fun to watch him. He has got great hands and I have said it before he could be an All-American at corner, receiver or running back. He just has that ability to do about anything he wants and he could have no problem to play college basketball if he wants. It is just amazing. His upside and what is potential is really is quite vast."

Big 12 Media Day:
Q. What's DeMarco Murray's status and what he will mean for you guys this year?

COACH STOOPS: DeMarco, he's recovered well, when I've seen him coming in the training room and rehabbing his knee, he says it feels great. I ask him, "How are you running?" He says, "Coach, I'm doing everything. I feel great running, I feel super." So according to him and our trainers, everything is on schedule and he looks great.

DeMarco is an explosive, exciting player. He's one of those special athletes that everyone sees the great speed and the moves he has. But he's a physical guy, too. When you get up next to him and you pat him on the shoulder, there's a lot to that guy. There's about 210 pounds. So he's put together. So he's a stronger runner I think than people notice as well.

But he just -- I think he averages about six yards per touch a year ago. So we have to get him the ball. Not only run him but out passing the ball as well. He's got great hands. We're expecting great things from him.

RB DeMarco Murray, So., 6-0, 191, Oklahoma. Scout's take: "Bob (Stoops) has had a bunch of terrific runners there, and I'm telling you, this kid could be his best. Including (Adrian) Peterson. His speed, he hits the high gear immediately. He's a hard runner, but he's not the tough inside guy Peterson was. At least not yet." Link

 Great Video of DeMarco Murray's highlights from High School
 

DeMarco Murray speaking to the media (June) “I have a year’s worth of experience, and that is going to help me a lot,” said Murray. “I was learning in every game and every play it seemed I picked up something new. I learned a lot watching Allen and Chris, and I think we all helped each other. Our offensive line is going to be even better than it was last year, and with Sam (Bradford) coming back with a year of experience under his belt think we are going to be able to move the ball a number of ways, which can only help our running game.”

DeMarco Murray article April 9

DeMarco Murray Interview April 8

DeMarco Murray 2007 Highlights
 

ESPN's Ivan Maisel's '3 things to watch for in Big XII' for 2007 (Boy he was right)

1. No other conference has more interesting stories at quarterback: Sam Keller taking over at Nebraska, Cody Hawkins possibly trying to resuscitate his father's offense at Colorado and Stephen McGee and Colt McCoy coming into their own at Texas A&M and Texas, respectively. Offense will be fun in the Big 12 this fall.

2. Oklahoma freshman DeMarco Murray ran so well this spring (four carries, 103 yards, one touchdown in the spring game) that he made Sooner fans stop weeping over the loss of Adrian Peterson. You never know how that type of performance will weather the trip from spring to fall, but Murray has shown nothing but promise.

3. Iowa State forced only 15 turnovers last season, last in the league. Texas forced 32 turnovers last season, tied for first in the league. Now that Longhorns defensive coordinator Gene Chizik has taken over as head coach of the Cyclones, we should find out how much difference an emphasis on takeaways can make.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma's leading rusher DeMarco Murray will miss the rest of the season with a a dislocated kneecap.

He is scheduled to have surgery this week, according to the Dallas Morning News. Murray, who also missed Oklahoma's 49-17 victory over Oklahoma State, will miss the Sooners' final two games: Saturday's Big 12 title game against Missouri and their bowl game, too.

Murray, who has 764 yards and 13 touchdowns for the 9th-ranked Sooners, was injured while trying to recover an onside kick in the final minute of a 34-27 loss at Texas Tech. The loss knocked Oklahoma (9-2, 5-2 Big 12) out of the national championship picture.

Murray also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season, and his 15 total touchdowns match Adrian Peterson's school record for a freshman.

DeMarco Murray will miss the bedlam game on Saturday, due to his dislocated knee cap injury

DeMarco Murray may not be on the Heisman Trophy watch list this year, but rest assured his performance as a freshman will put him near the top of the list of candidates in 2008. Scout.com Article on DeMarco Murray

Oklahoma rolls with part-timer

 
DeMarco Murray's First 10 Games

Coach cultivated Murray's moves

Magnificent Murray breathes life into Sooners

ESPN News Highlights and commentary from Nessler and Griese
 

DeMarco Murray earns a place in Texas-OU lore

DeMarco Murray Kickoff TD
 

Video Highlights of the Utah State Game
 

Picture courtesy soonerphotos.com

DeMarco Murray 92 Yard Run
 

The Miami OU game, condensed, ESPN Broadband
Or download it here http://seavideo-ak.espn.go.com/motion/hu_070909ncf_oklmia.flv

Visit SoonerPhotos.com

 Bruce Feldman: (1:32 PM ET ) Lemme tweak the question by saying the five most impressive things I saw:

1. The GT defense
2. The Cal offense
3. Jake Locker
4. DeMarco Murray
5. The LSU secondary

Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray just scored again on North Texas. (Pete Fiutak, Cavalcade of Whimsy - The New Stars)
1. Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray and QB Sam Bradford
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was against North Texas, but Oklahoma started off the season first in the nation in total and scoring offense after cranking out 668 yards and 79 points. New starting quarterback Sam Bradford completed 21 of 23 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns, with one of the misses coming on a deep ball that just barely failed to click. DeMarco Murray, the star of the OU off-season, ran 17 times for 87 yards and five touchdowns, highlighted by a silky-smooth, bolt-of-lightning 44-yard dash. The receiving corps is among the nation’s fastest, the offense line and secondary are among the nation’s best, and the defensive line reloaded. Now the Sooners know they have two offensive stars to build around, even when running back Allen Patrick is back this week against Miami.
 

DeMarco Murray leads the NCAA in scoring with 30 points, Steve Slaton of WVU has 24 and is in second.

Freshman DeMarco Murray became the first Oklahoma player to score five touchdowns in his debut
17 carries for 87 yards, 5 touchdowns, long run of 44 yards. 2 catches for 13 yards. He left game early in the 3rd quarter.

The Herbie Awards from Kirk Herbstreit

Best Running Backs - The Next Wave
1. Beanie Wells, Ohio State
2. DeMarco Murray, OU

What's My Name - Players who will be household names by Oct. 1
Tommy Blake, DE, TCU
Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Andre Brown, RB, NC State
Ian Campbell, DE, Kansas State
Justin Forsett, RB,Cal
Vidal Hazelton, WR, USC
DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
Evan Royster, RB, Penn State
Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State
Keiland Williams, RB, LSU

Ivan Maisel's article on DeMarco Murray

August 13 DeMarco Murray interview (video)

Check out DeMarco Murray make the hit of the day during Monday's practice

Rivals.com Top 10 redshirt freshmen
3. Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray and DT Gerald McCoy
Oklahoma may end up getting greater contributions from redshirt freshmen than any other BCS team in the nation. As we've pointed out in our list, the Sooners could open the season with redshirt freshman Sam Bradford starting at quarterback. Although Oklahoma already has Allen Patrick at running back, Murray showed enough gamebreaking ability in spring practice to warrant some ball-carrying responsibilities this fall. McCoy is a former five-star prospect who could shore up a defensive line that lost three of last year's starters.

Austin, Texas paper quote, "Peterson's gone to the NFL, but OU went 8-0 without him and has in his place a sensational, versatile back named DeMarco Murray who Stoops said "absolutely" could be as dynamic as AD. Yikes. Call him a Heisman dark horse."

Bob Stoops meets the Big 12 Media:
Question: Bob, can you just kind of take us through your backfield and how you would foresee that? How would you like that to develop with Allen and what he did last year, maybe some of the other guys like Chris and Demarco.

Stoops: Well, I'd like to see them rush the ball for a bunch of yards. I think in the end, the way we look at it, I don't feel any of those guys have the physical prowess that Adrian Peterson had.

The stamina and the strength that he had is very unusual. Adrian could play 60 snaps or more. These guys, I just don't feel their body types, through hopefully 14 games, will be able to. So in the end we look to use them, each of them 20, 25 snaps in that kind of way.

I think as much as anything they need to be able to take care of the football. And they did a year ago. But Allen Patrick, Chris Brown, had the bulk of the load last year when Adrian went down and did a great job for us. And I expect them to be every bit that good or better with another year.

DeMarco Murray showed great excitement and promise through the spring. Probably showed through the spring to be our biggest play threat back there. And he's up to about 205, 210 pounds. He's put on muscle and looks good.

So we'll use him to complement one another. I think in the end it will be better because we'll be able to keep them fresh. A fresh set of legs hitting the defense in a different series I think helps.

Old ESPN article from 2005 Get to Know DeMarco Murray

Chris Brown, DeMarco Murray, & Allen Patrick on the set for OU Intro Video

"The answer lies in the hands of DeMarco Murray. The redshirt freshman has dazzled scouts with his ability to see running lanes and dart through them. The Sooners are expected to go with a committee at tailback, but once Murray learns the ropes, he will be the committee. Given Stoops’ track record of developing players, Oklahoma should be pounding the pay window in the second half of the 2007 season; if Murray is a star right out of the box, make that the entire 2007 season." Read more

Meet the Sooners Day is August 3

Phil Steel talks  with OUInsider about Demarco Murray

I have a feeling DeMarco Murray will rank up there with the best running backs in OU history
I've compiled video highlights of the past great Oklahoma running backs, Great Oklahoma running backs, enjoy

DeMarco Murray listed as 3rd on the Top 12, Newcomers to the Big 12
3. DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma (redshirt freshman): Three Sooners in the top five? That’s how well Oklahoma has recruited lately. If not for Oklahoma’s ridiculous wealth of running back talent, Murray might be considered one of the country’s most exciting players for 2007. He was certainly OU’s most explosive back during the spring, which concluded with his four-carry, 103-yard day in the final scrimmage. One local writer wrote that Murray’s spring performance might have been the most impressive spring by any OU player - ever. Fighting a case of turf toe - plus a depth chart that included Adrian Peterson - Murray settled for scout-team duty last season. That will change this fall when OU leans on Allen Patrick and Murray to carry an offense that will start a new quarterback.

Full Article

Get to Know DeMarco Murray May 17, 2007 Article

You. And you and you. And you, you, you and you…

No worries, Murray figures to be a main man in Oklahoma's offense for 2007. Maybe THE main man.

And at the risk of jumping the ledge before he even takes off with his first collegiate snap, Murray may be in line to emerge as OU's next great runner.

All that said, don't expect him to start at tailback when the Sooners open the season Sept. 1 against North Texas. In the slot? Maybe.

But Bob Stoops prefers caution when it comes to firing freshmen into the fray.

There's a measure of loyalty to proven veterans, not to mention a demand for youngsters to earn running rights with the first team.

Remember, Adrian Peterson didn't make his debut as a starter until his fourth game as a Sooner.

Not that Peterson's talents were wasted early. He became the first Sooner ever to rush for 100 yards in each of his first four games.

Murray can do some things — some special things.

NORMAN (AP) - With Adrian Peterson headed to the NFL, it didn't take long for another playmaking tailback to emerge at Oklahoma.

Redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray played a starring role in his third straight scrimmage on Saturday, piling up 103 yards on only four carries in the Sooners' spring game.

Murray scored on an 18-yard run on his first carry and later darted around defenders for a 68-yard gain that set up another touchdown.

"I'm not trying to fill anybody's shoes or nothing like that. Adrian Peterson was the guy, probably one of the greatest players to ever play here," Murray said. "He's a good guy. I learned a lot from him.

"We're just moving on. All the backs, we all have different styles. We're just trying to play hard, work hard and carry the team."

Murray totaled 327 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries in the three spring scrimmages, averaging a whopping 11.3 yards. He had at least one run 65 yards or longer in each outing.

"I'm always looking for the big play. I'm always try to make something happen," Murray said. "Sometimes it's not there, and I mess up here and there. I think I've got to just calm down sometimes and get the two yards or three yards instead of trying to look for the home run all the time.

"I'm still working on it. I'm still young, but I'm getting there."

With his impressive spring, Murray has pushed his way into Oklahoma's tailback picture with Allen Patrick and Chris Brown, who split time in the backfield while Peterson was recovering from a broken collarbone last season.

Patrick, who started four times last season and finished with 761 yards and four touchdowns, was slowed by a hip pointer this spring. He fumbled on his first carry Saturday, prompting Stoops to say, "He's played too much football to drop the ball as he did."

At this point, Stoops expects Patrick, Brown and Murray all to get playing time _ with Murray likely to be featured at wide receiver too.

"We're going to split them up, give them opportunities to stay fresh, stay fast, and I think that's going to be good for us," Stoops said.

In winter testing, Murray recorded the team's best 40-yard dash time at 4.43 seconds and backed that up on the field in spring practice, which continues through Tuesday.

"He's a talented guy that really just has a knack for making plays. He's a great worker, he has a great attitude," Stoops said. "He would have played last year but he had a turf toe that really kept him out three-fourths of the season by the time he was back to full speed.

"We're excited about him. He's going to give us a big boost."

Because of the injury and Peterson's presence, Murray redshirted last season after arriving in Norman out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. He worked out on the scout team, and said that helped eliminate some of his shyness.

"I think I'm comfortable a lot more with the guys. I'm not timid any more," Murray said. "I think that's all out of me, and I'm just ready to play ball and have fun."

He also spent time learning from Peterson, the 2005 Heisman runner-up and a top prospect for the NFL draft later this month.

"He was the hardest worker I've ever seen. Practice, workouts, just walkthroughs, he's running hard," Murray said. "Just a good, good work ethic. I see why he is where he's at."

While saying Murray has been "the big-play guy" and the quickest of the tailbacks, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said he sees great flexibility with how physical Brown and Patrick are when they run.

"I think everybody likes Allen, and everybody's excited about DeMarco. As a coach, I'd tell you Chris Brown is maybe the best because he goes that way (forward) all the time," Wilson said. "He's a good runner. Them other guys make the great plays, but he is just a good football player, a good runner.

"I think they're all good enough, you would hope and think they're all going to play."

The scrimmage did bring one injury, as tight end Brody Eldridge injured his knee after making a catch in the third quarter. Wilson said the initial diagnosis was a low-grade sprain of the medial collateral ligament.

Earlier this spring, the Sooners lost starting linebacker Ryan Reynolds to a torn lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.

Stoops said he likely wouldn't make a decision on a new starting quarterback until "sometime in August." Joey Halzle, a senior-to-be, was 7-for-18 for 162 yards with one touchdown and the day's only interception. Redshirt freshman Sam Bradford had 110 yards on 9-for-14 passing with one touchdown. Freshman Keith Nichol was 3-for-7 for 25 yards.

"That position has to be earned," Stoops said. "To be accepted in the locker room, to be accepted in the huddle where your guys have confidence in you, it only happens through snaps and earning it and showing you can do it."