DeMarco Murray reveals his message to Daylan Smothers as he begins Oklahoma career
Daylan Smothers was a great running back prospect for the Oklahoma Sooners, but missed his entire senior year of high school. Running backs coach DeMarco Murray sent a message to the freshman running back, who participated in spring practice.
Coming off a season-long injury, Smothers’ comeback from injury was a long one. But Murray was confident in the young runner to come along nicely.
But it’s all about the waiting game ahead of Smothers’ first season, according to Murray.
“I’ve always told Daylan to just stay patient,” Murray said. “You know, whenever you have a year off of football, it’s gonna take time. For him, I told him that last year, I told him that six months ago, told him that when he first got here. I’ve been a guy that’s missed time in my career, but when you miss a full year, instinctually things don’t come back as natural.
“No matter what. So, the fact that he is in mid-year, he’s gonna get a huge jumpstart on that. So it won’t take him too much time but again, he’s been really good since he’s been here. But again, just taking it day by day with him and you know, he’s done a good job.”
Oklahoma lost last season’s leading rusher Eric Gray and has a tall task to replace his 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns.
As Murray tried to identify who will fill the void left behind by Gray, perhaps Smothers, he spoke on the importance of not only spring practice, but the summer workouts that will follow as well.
“The two most important phases, I feel like, is winter workouts and summer workouts,” Murray said. “Having been through it and just seeing other guys get better. Just the improvement from myself over those two periods. Obviously, you’re gonna get better during the season and spring and all that. But as far as just getting faster, stronger and more explosive, we’ve obviously got the best strength coaches in the nation. Coach (Jerry) Schmidt, he knows what he’s doing.
“I’m excited to continue to get out here and practice, but I’m always looking forward to summer workouts. Getting those guys bigger, faster, stronger and then letting those guys take control and leadership of meetings and things of that nature that we have. It’s just exciting times.”
Perhaps Smothers could emerge, as Murray alluded to.
As a member of the Class of 2023, Smothers was a four-star recruit out of Charlotte (N.C.) West, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 14 overall prospect in the state, the No. 26 running back in the class and the No. 377 overall prospect in the class.