Byron Murphy is 'built like a pit bull' and having a hell of a season on defense and offense
Through four games, Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy has 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Along with T’Vondre Sweat, Alfred Collins, and Vernon Broughton, Murphy is leading what is arguably the best defensive front in college football.
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His contributions aren’t just limited to the defensive side of the ball either. Murphy has caught one touchdown and paved the way for another as the goal line fullback for the Longhorns.
Murphy, one of the leaders of the No. 3 Longhorns both on and off the field, drew high praise on Monday from Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian for how No. 90 plays and thinks on the gridiron.
“He’s built like a pit bull, man,” Sarkisian said. “He’s strong. He’s got really strong shoulders. He’s extremely quick and powerful. He’s got a very high football IQ, and he plays hard. Those are all really cool prerequisites that you want to have as a defensive lineman, especially with his stature.”
Among Texas defensive linemen, Murphy has the second highest Pro Football Focus defensive grade at 76.5, a mark only behind Sweat. Murphy has been credited with 11 total pressures, one behind team-leader Barryn Sorrell, an impressive feat considering his and Sorrell’s respective positions. Murphy leads the team in sacks with 2.5 and is tied with Sweat for the team lead in TFL with 3.5.
Murphy’s effort thus far, whether recorded by regular or advanced numbers, has him on pace for his best season season on the Forty Acres.
Murphy made a number of plays versus Baylor, including this sack on the opening drive…
This TFL on a wide zone play…
And this effort play on a game well in hand for the Longhorns…
Murphy’s been an impactful player on defense for all 119 snaps he’s seen the field this season and in his 809 career defensive snaps. But he’s added an extra element to his game in his role as the fullback when Texas deploys its goal line personnel.
After one snap at fullback in 2021 and nine in 2022, Murphy has been on the field for three offensive snaps in 2023.
One of those was his touchdown grab versus Wyoming…
The other featured a key block on a Jonathon Brooks touchdown run versus Baylor…
Murphy has made an impact on both sides of the ball, something Sarkisian wanted make note of on Monday.
“The one thing he provides for us offensively is, the football IQ is helpful but (also) the athleticism,” Sarkisian said. “He’s got really good feet. His change of direction is excellent. You see that at D-line play, but you see it on offense, too.
“We ran a lead play Saturday on the goal line, and he was able to adjust off of it to kick the defender out and get Brooks into the end zone. We saw the hands a couple of weeks ago. It takes athleticism, too. It’s one thing to know what to do and how to do it, but you have to have the ability. He definitely has the ability.”
Murphy’s touchdown was the fourth in school history by a lineman on either side of the ball and the first by a full-time defensive tackle since Derek Lokey caught a two-yard pass from Colt McCoy in the 2007 Holiday Bowl versus Arizona State.
That six-point score is a quality addition to his resume, one that features standout play at defensive tackle. Thanks to his tremendous ability in the trenches on a strong defense and his versatility in the offensive backfield, Murphy is one of the best dual threats in the country and is enjoying one of the more successful seasons by a Longhorn interior defender in recent memory.
