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The kid was an absolute stud coming out of high school. He didn’t lose a game in three years, and led Allen High School to three consecutive Texas High School State Championships. He was 43-0 in three years of high school ball and the slippery 5-foot-11, 185-pounder accounted for 14,500 yards and 186 touchdowns during that span.
Named National Player of the Year by Parade, Gatorade, MaxPreps and USA Today, the five-star recruit is a “can’t miss” for Texas A&M. But he also has some big shoes to fill. His father, Kevin Murray, lettered at Texas A&M from 1983-86 and finished his career holding virtually every school season and career passing record. He was inducted into the A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2012.
But as the younger Murray is finding out, the college game is much, much faster than the prep version. He’ll get there. It’ll take time. But when the game finally slows down for him, the sky is the limit with this talent.
Murray struggled somewhat in his freshman season. Inconsistent playing time resulted in an inconsistent season. For most of the season Murray played a back-up role to Kyle Allen. Murray saw significant action over a three-game stretch, but was then relegated once again to backing up Allen.
Over the first five games he played in, Murray totaled 17 completions for 167 yards on 31 attempts. Those numbers aren’t bad at all. However, Murray threw two interceptions to just one touchdown pass.
During the three-game stretch he flashed signs of his old high school self again, completing 55 of 90 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns – three against Western Carolina. But again, Murray had still not caught up to the speed of the game, throwing five more interceptions, and he found himself on the bench for the remainder of the season.
For the season, Murray threw for 686 yards with a 59.5 percent completion rate – five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
But there’s still one more game left in the season. The Aggies will take on Louisville in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville. And with Allen recently receiving his transfer, it will be Murray’s offense to run.
The Aggies enter the bowl game with just two game-experienced quarterbacks. Murray will be given the keys to the offense, but 6-3, 195-pound sophomore Jake Hubenak will remain at the ready. Hubenak played in four games this season but threw for only 92 yards and completed just 12 of 27 pass attempts. He did throw one touchdown pass and did not have an interception.
It would appear that the bowl game will usher in the Murray era at Texas A&M. And with the extra reps in practices leading up to that bowl game, Murray should be that much closer to showing off the form that made him one of the greatest high school quarterbacks in Texas football history.
However, if he still needs a little more time, remember he is a true freshman, Hubenak has proven in limited playing time that he can take care of the football.
It’s an exciting time for Murray and an exciting time for Aggies fans that have waited to see the team fully unwrap the young signal-caller with superstar potential.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
