Tag: Chris Murray

Roc Bellantoni set to re-join Auburn coaching staff

Hugh Freeze’s latest hire has previous experience with the program.

Auburn Football has called upon an old friend to fill the EDGE coach vacancy.

[autotag]Roc Bellantoni[/autotag], who served as EDGE coach and special teams coordinator under [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] during the 2022 season, is heading back to the Plains after a two-year stint with Tom Herman’s staff at Florida Atlantic. On3’s Justin Hokanson reported this news.

He joined Auburn’s staff in 2022 after serving as special teams coordinator at Utah State. He has also coached at Washington State, Buffalo, Villanova, and Eastern Illinois. Bellantoni spent the last two seasons as FAU’s defensive coordinator. Last season, FAU finished No. 10 in the American Athletic Conference in points allowed (30.3) and No. 9 in yards allowed per game (416.7).

During the 2022 season, Bellantoni coached [autotag]Colby Wooden[/autotag] and [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag], who would become the defense’s top pass rushers. The duo ended the season in the top two in pressures created. Hall led the team with 47 pressures (28 quarterback hurries), and Wooden was next in line with 35 pressures (24 quarterback hurries). Both players were taken in the top four rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

Similar success is possible for Bellantoni in his second stint as Auburn’s EDGE coach. [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] returns to the unit after making 81 stops with eight sacks and a forced fumble during his first two seasons on the Plains. Freshmen [autotag]Amaris Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Demarcus Riddick[/autotag] had great first seasons and will be key players on defense again this season.

The future at the position is bright as well. Five-star freshman [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] is set to join the program in the fall, and Auburn also added former Sam Houston EDGE rusher [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] from the transfer portal to add depth.

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What is Auburn getting in ex-Sam Houston EDGE Chris Murray?

Murray announces his intent to transfer following a successful weekend visit.

A successful weekend visit leads to another transfer portal commitment for Auburn football.

[autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], formerly of Sam Houston State, announced Sunday that he will transfer to Auburn after spending the last two seasons with the Bearkats.

Murray took an official visit to the Plains on Saturday, Jan. 4, and by Sunday night, he became a Tiger one day later. Murray brings a heavy sack presence to the Auburn defense after posting a team-leading 5.5 sacks this season for Sam Houston. He ended the season with 35 total tackles and two forced fumbles.

Murray participated in 435 snaps over 13 games this season at Sam Houston State and was the second-highest graded defender according to Pro Football Focus at 78.1. He created 34 total pressures with 24 quarterback hurries.

He recorded a season-high six tackles in three games this season, most recently in Sam Houston’s 21-11 loss to Jax State on Nov. 23. His most notable game of the season came against UTEP on Oct. 3 when he logged six tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Auburn looks to replace [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] at EDGE this season, and Murray is a viable option. [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] returns to the position, and true freshman [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] is also expected to see significant action at EDGE. Murray gives Auburn a solid option to keep Faulk fresh and allow more time for Smith to develop.

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Former Sam Houston EDGE Chris Murray schedules visit to Auburn

Could another “sack machine” make his way to the Plains?

Could another “sack machine” join Auburn’s roster?

According to a report by Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, former Sam Houston EDGE rusher [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] will be on Auburn’s campus this weekend for an official visit beginning Saturday, Jan. 4.

Murray entered the transfer portal after the Bearkats’ historic season that resulted in 10 wins. He played a major role in Sam Houston’s success by leading the team in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (2). Overall, he finished seventh in tackles by registering 35 stops.

According to Pro Football Focus, Murray earned a final grade of 78.1, the second-highest among Sam Houston defenders. Pass rushing proved to be his key strength, as he logged a team-leading 34 pressures in 260 opportunities and 24 quarterback hurries. In three seasons at Sam Houston, Murray has participated in 729 snaps with two starts at defensive end.

Auburn is looking to replace [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag], who recorded 106 tackles and 13.5 sacks in two seasons. [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] returns to the position while [autotag]Jared Smith[/autotag] is set to earn valuable field time as a true freshman. However, Auburn will need another experienced EDGE rusher to aid in the development of Smith while providing a breather to Faulk. Murray is viable option due to his ability to force opposing quarterbacks into making quick, questionable decisions.

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Huskers to host playmaking all-conference defensive lineman this weekend

Chris Murray could add important veteran depth to the defensive line.

Nebraska football will get a visit from Sam Houston State transfer defensive lineman Chris Murray this weekend. Murray plans to visit the Kentucky Wildcats and Missouri Tigers along with Nebraska. ESPN’s Max Olson reported this earlier in the week. Murray has already visited with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

The defensive lineman received first-team All-CUSA honors in 2024, recording 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He has tallied 49 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in two seasons with the Bearkats.

The Nebraska football defensive line will undergo a makeover following the Pinstripe Bowl. Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson will no longer be in the picture. Another defensive lineman, such as James Williams, has entered the transfer portal and transferred to the Florida State Seminoles. There will be an infusion of youth coming in, but Murray would be a solid veteran piece.

The Huskers have been busy over the past couple of days, as they have hosted and landed several transfer targets. The program still has work to do, but defensive line depth is important. Landing a player with experience like Murray is certainly a step in the right direction.

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Three Oklahoma Sooners to watch on offense against Arkansas State

Taking a look at three Oklahoma Sooners to watch on offense vs. Arkansas State.

Saturday will mark the start of year two for Jeff Lebby as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. While the Sooners posted some solid numbers last year, it always felt like they could’ve done more. That sentiment is something players and coaches alike have echoed throughout the offseason. Situational football was emphasized, along with consistency.

However, some significant pieces from last year’s team are no longer in Norman.

OU’s rushing attack ranked No. 10 in the country, averaging 219.4 yards per game. The offensive line responsible for that lost three starters in [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag]. Harrison was a first-rounder to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Morris was a third-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs. Starting running back [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag] went off and posted the ninth-best season on the ground in program history last year. He’s with the New York Giants.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] and explosive star receiver [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] will be missed in the passing game. Willis is with the San Francisco 49ers, and Mims was a third-round pick by the Denver Broncos. The two combined for 1,597 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. That’s an insane amount of production lost and presents a massive hole in the passing game.

The challenge in the offseason for Lebby was finding replacements for the names lost. Additionally, he and the offensive staff had to help develop the guys coming back this offseason. The time to prove it starts on Saturday.

With that in mind, here’s our look at three offensive players to watch for the season opener against Arkansas State.

Up Next: An Ascending Offensive Linemen

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Oklahoma Sooners name captains for Week 1 vs. Arkansas State

The Sooners named their captains for the first game of the season against Arkansas State.

Being a captain for a blue-blood program such as the [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] is something special. Not many players get to say they were voted a captain by their peers.

Getting to walk out first and head to the middle of the field for the coin toss shows all of the hard work you put in on and off of the field. Last year first-year head coach, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] had a rotation of captains for each game of the season before announcing who would be the captains for the whole season at the end of the year.

Those were [autotag]Justin Broiles[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]. Gabriel, Stoops and Stutsman are the only captains returning from last season.

So, before the season opener against the [autotag]Arkansas State Red Wolves[/autotag], the Sooners announced the new captains for the start of the season. Those were Stoops, Stutsman, [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag].

What a great story it makes to see Harrington included. Harrington entered the transfer portal before deciding to return to Oklahoma. He’s a guy who was given a second chance by Venables and had to earn every bit of it.

He’s someone who has a great deal of potential but until now has only been an offseason talking point. Is this the year it finally all comes together? Many think it does. If it does, you could see the defense taken to another level.

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Offensive line hopes to anchor the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners

The offensive line is crucial to what every team wants to do offensively. Ever since Bill Bedenbaugh came to town it’s arguably been the strength of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Another day and another position group. This one is the position that doesn’t get enough credit, but it might be the most fun position to talk about.

The offensive line is crucial to what every team wants to do offensively. Ever since Bill Bedenbaugh came to town, it’s arguably been the strength of the Oklahoma Sooners.

But the Sooners will have their work cut out for them as they replace three starters from last year’s team. [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] are gone.

They added transfer [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] from the Stanford Cardinal to fill Harrison’s spot at left tackle. He comes in with a ton of experience and should help lessen the blow of losing Harrison.

[autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] will slide into the right tackle spot replacing Morris. Guyton played a great deal at the position early in the season when Morris was out. They love his upside, and he has the potential to be a future first-round pick. He’s extremely athletic but needs to improve on his technique. He’s poised for a breakout season in 2023.

The replacement for Murray is a little trickier. Bedenbaugh doesn’t like to show his hand this early, but all signs point to Savion Byrd taking that role.

Byrd is a violent blocker. He’s reminiscent of how the 2018 line played: They just mauled you. Now, he has some technique work to do, but his performance against Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl was fun to watch. If he can refine some of his technique, he could be special.

I know [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] started most of the games at left guard, but I think for this team to really have a dominant offensive line, someone like [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] needs to take over.

You know exactly what you’ll get from Mettauer. He’s a steady piece with a lot of experience, but he doesn’t have the upside Taylor has. That guy can be similar to Byrd. He just plays mean.

The Sooners also bring back center [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], who brings significant experience. He should be able to help solidify this line as it navigates the turnover experienced this offseason.

They also add transfers [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] from the Appalachian State Mountaineers and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] from the Miami (Oh.) RedHawks. Both of those guys will add depth to the line and should play a role on this team.

If you want to talk about some fun video, turn on Everett’s tape versus the Texas A&M Aggies. You’ll thank me later.

All in all, the Sooners have a lot of depth and have the potential to roll out the best offensive line in Norman since that elite 2018 line. Now, they still have to put things together, and players will have to progress the way a lot of people think they can, but the potential is there.

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Oklahoma’s Wanya Morris selected No. 92 overall by Kansas City

Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Wanya Morris is headed to the Kansas City Chiefs.

For the second day of the 2023 NFL draft, an Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman comes off the board. Offensive tackle Wanya Morris was taken in the third round with the No. 92 overall pick by the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

It was pretty well known that the Chiefs would be in the market for offensive line help this offseason, and in particular in the NFL draft after losing Orlando Brown in free agency. A multitude of mock drafts projected [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] to go to the Chiefs at the end of the first round. Harrison went No. 27 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, Wanya Morris becomes a high priority given his pass-blocking prowess and his experience..

Morris transferred to the Sooners in the 2021 offseason after spending the first part of his collegiate career with Tennessee. He struggled to carve out a role in 2021, but became a starter in 2022 and had a strong season, certainly worthy of a top 100 selection.

He’s got just over 1,700 snaps to his ledger and started eight games for Oklahoma in 2022. He was a big part of a breakout rushing performance from Eric Gray.

With the pick, the Kansas City Chiefs get some much-needed reinforcements on the offensive line. With a hole at one of the tackle spots, there’s an opportunity for Wanya Morris to earn a spot right away.

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Bucs 2023 draft targets: Guards/Centers

Here are a few prospects on the interior of the o-line the Bucs could do well to target:

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have spent the past few years stockpiling interior offensive linemen, they have yet to settle on a direction to take the group. Their logjam at the position may keep the Bucs from prioritizing guards and centers in this year’s draft, but it should not keep them from drafting any at all.

In the nine drafts that Jason Licht has been the Bucs’ general manager, he has drafted an offensive lineman in seven of them, taking six players between the tackles. It is likely not an accident that over time Licht has used higher and higher picks on interior linemen, indicating his growing appreciation for the return on talent at the position.

Since 2021, he has used picks in rounds two and three to take Luke Goedeke and Robert Hainsey in an effort to inject youth and plan ahead for losses at the position. The retirement of Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa’s departure in free agency last year dramatically diminished the Bucs’ quality of play along the interior of the offensive line.

Hainsey was a serviceable center when starter Ryan Jensen missed the entire regular season with a knee injury, but Goedeke looked completely overwhelmed at left guard. The position was only stabilized when Nick Leverett took over for Goedeke following an injury.

Heading into the 2023 season, the Bucs are primed for a battle at both guard spots after trading veteran Shaq Mason to the Texans. Hainsey, Goedeke, Leverett and veteran Aaron Stinnie are all in the running, but none of them have proven that they can be stalwarts on the line.

The Bucs also have to plan for the future. Ryan Jensen is 31 years-old and is signed only through 2024. His chief backup Robert Hainsey is also due to be a free agent in 2024. Leverett and Stinnie are playing on one-year deals. The Bucs interior offensive line is on a two-year timeframe at best.

That is why another pick spent on the interior line is well within the realm of possibility. The Bucs have too many other needs to spend more than a Day 3 pick on guard or center, but with five picks over rounds five and six, there is opportunity to take a shot on the interior offensive line.

Here are the interior offensive linemen the Bucs could target in the 2023 NFL Draft:

Oklahoma No. 3 in ESPN’s future quarterback power rankings

With Dillon Gabriel returning and the arrival of Jackson Arnold, the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best quarterback situations in the country.

With a number of losses on the offensive side of the football to the NFL draft, there’s reason to wonder how good the Oklahoma Sooners offense will be in 2023.

The Sooners lost their leading rusher, top two receivers, and a pair of starting offensive tackles that are likely to be top 100 picks in the 2023 NFL draft. And still, they’re returning the player that matters most to offensive success; the quarterback.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] returns for his second season in Norman in what will be his last hurrah at the collegiate level. Gabriel brings back the most returning production at the position in the Big 12. That sets the Sooners up to be able to better mitigate the sting of the departures of [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag].

With Gabriel for 2023 and [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] waiting in the wings, offensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] has the Sooners set up really well at the quarterback position for 2023 and beyond. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg ranked the top 25 quarterback situations for 2023 and beyond (ESPN+), and the Oklahoma Sooners landed at No. 3.

The start of the Brent Venables era in Norman didn’t go well, but Gabriel wasn’t the problem. He passed for 3,168 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 315 rushing yards and six scores. Despite missing a game and most of another, his numbers compared favorably to his first two seasons at UCF. He could play two more seasons at OU, which retained coordinator Jeff Lebby, and should continue to produce. Oklahoma seemingly is well-positioned for whenever Gabriel departs after signing Jackson Arnold, ESPN’s top dual-threat quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the 2023 class. Arnold earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors after passing for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns as a high school senior, while adding 921 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Arnold should help with depth, as Oklahoma struggled mightily without Gabriel in losses to TCU and Texas. OU lost a quarterback with Nick Evers transferring to Wisconsin, but returns veteran Davis Beville for another year. If Arnold delivers on the expectations around him, the Sooners should be in very good shape under center through 2025. – Rittenberg, ESPN

The Sooners landed one of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class in Jackson Arnold. He’s an ascending player, growing into a five-star player during his senior year, which included Elite 11 MVP honors and the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. Arnold got a jump start on his collegiate career as a mid-year enrollee but will serve as a backup quarterback for the Sooners in preparation for his turn at the helm, likely starting in 2024.

Though he hasn’t committed yet, the Oklahoma Sooners are heavily favored to land 2024 four-star quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag]. Lebby and the Sooners will have to do battle with Sonny Dykes, Kendall Briles, and the TCU Horned Frogs, but are in a good spot to land the talented Hawkins when he commits on April 8.

The Sooners have already received their quarterback commitment of the 2025 recruiting class with the pledge of [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag]. He’s a talented dual-threat quarterback that will be a fantastic fit in Jeff Lebby’s offense.

The Sooners came in behind USC at No. 1 and Ohio State at No. 2.

The Trojans are set up well with Heisman trophy winner [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] and 2024 five-star signee [autotag]Malachi Nelson[/autotag]. They’ll be a force offensively for as long as Lincoln Riley is in Los Angeles. But will the defense make enough improvements to help the Trojans get into national title contention?

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