The #trUTh21 defensive class continues to swell as DeSoto defensive tackle Byron Murphy II flipped his commitment from the Baylor Bears to the Texas Longhorns Wednesday.
110% committed respect my decision. @CoachTomHerman @OscarGiles95 @CoachMarkHagen @TexasFootball @TXHRecruiting @BON_SBNation @FootballDesoto @CoachSweeny @PaulBeattie17 #hookem #longhorns pic.twitter.com/I6OyIDcqJB
— Murph Dawg (@ByronMurphyII) November 18, 2020
The 6’1, 290-pound tackle has been a force for DeSoto this year, amassing 40 tackles and five sacks through six games this season. As a junior, Murphy was voted first-team all-state for Class 6A, in addition to being an unanimous all-district selection after finishing the 2019 campaign with 98 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. The three-star defender committed to Baylor in June, but announced his decommitment from the Bears earlier in the day.
Thank you Baylor football and coaches for everything. pic.twitter.com/eGOTlQfTYp
— Murph Dawg (@ByronMurphyII) November 18, 2020
A late push from the Longhorns netted the services of the Eagles defender, adding a talented building block to the class. Murphy currently sits as the No. 24 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 61 player in the state according to the 247Sports Composite, but will likely see his stock rise after another solid season. As Murphy committed on Wednesday, he also earned his fourth star from 247Sports, which ranks him as the No. 21 defensive tackle nationally.
Murphy is commitment No. 19 for the 2021 class and the second in the month of November, joining linebacker Terrence Cooks in the group.
Analysis:
Murphy is listed at 6’1, 290 pounds, and while he may be a little vertically challenged and lack elite measurables for the position, the film tells a different story. Murphy makes up for the lack of size with very good play strength, good usage of his hands, and excellent effort from snap to whistle. Murphy consistently is playing on the other side of the LOS and is a handful and half when he is being solo blocked. He possesses good power and his hands and strong lower half that allows him to put offensive linemen on their heels frequently. Even when he is double teamed, Murphy shows the ability to fight and split through them to cause disruption. Murphy consistently sheds and gets off blocks and follows that up with displaying a good motor in pursuit of the play consistently. When you are tasked with eating double teams as often as Murphy is and you still give great effort from snap to snap it will not go unnoticed by coaches. Murphy is former linebacker who outgrew the position, and it adds intrigue to how he profiles athletically, as he moves very well on tape. Murphy had an absolutely nutty amount of production in 2019, in which he generated 98 tackles (12 TFLs), 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown on his way to being named Class 6A first-team all-state.
When you combine the production and what he displays on tape you have yourself a pretty dang good football player and I think if he was a couple of inches taller he wouldn’t be ranked as a three star by recruiting services.