Interview: Connor Murphy Updates USC Visit, Previews Michigan and Alabama Trips

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

While there are many top players who remain uncommitted in the 2016 recruiting class, there are fewer prospects that could make an immediate impact during their true freshman season that are still weighing their options before National Signing Day. One of the few still exploring all of his options is 4-star Arizona defensive end recruit Connor Murphy.

Murphy has the size, speed, strength, and genetic bloodline, brother of Washington Redskins linebacker Trent Murphy (Stanford), that make college football coaches privately drool. The 6’7”, 255 pound, athlete had a breakout junior season for Brophy College Prep coming up with 71 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, three pass deflections, two sacks, and two forced fumbles fighting his way through double-teams and opponents heading in the opposite direction. His senior year was not the fairy tale ending many had hoped for limited to seven games due to two different injuries, but Murphy gutted out seven games playing through immense pain to come up with 30 tackles, five tackles for a loss, two sacks, five quarterback hurries, and two pass deflections.

College coaches see the potential in Murphy pushing 20 total scholarship offers from some of the best college football programs in the nation. Among the many include Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Boston College, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Michigan State, UCLA, Colorado, USC, Michigan, and Oregon. The listed Top 5, in no order, includes Michigan, USC, Oregon, Alabama, and Arizona State.

Murphy has taken official visits to Oregon on Nov. 20 and USC Jan. on Jan. 15. Upcoming visits include Michigan on Jan. 22 and Alabama on Feb. 3. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the top players in the state of Arizona to go over the injury that held him back in 2015 and his current health status, received an update on his USC visit, and got a preview of his thoughts about Michigan and Alabama ahead of his visits.

Interview

Connor, I know your senior season did not go as planned limited to seven games due to injury. Can you give the readers an update on what happened and where your health status is at the moment?

“Basically, I injured myself during a Big Man competition at ASU over the summer. I thought I had pulled or tweaked my groin muscle, I did not think much of it. I went to the doctor. The doctor said the injury was a normal groin strain. The season was about to start and I did not want to miss anytime because it is my senior year. The strain turned into a sports hernia. I had torn the muscle. Again, it’s my senior year and I still wanted to go out and compete with my teammates.

The injury was on my right side and then my left side went. I had babied it maybe too much, but I ended up with a double sports hernia. I was battling throughout the season with the injuries. I missed our preseason scrimmage and was limited in our first game of the season. I was rehabbing every day. I played two or three more games then we pulled the plug on my season before I suffered any permanent damage. I had surgery six weeks ago and now I am almost fully recovered. I had my surgery right after I visited Oregon.”

Great lead-in to my next question. If you can remember back to November, how did your trip to Oregon go?

“It was great.”

Did anything about the trip, program, or campus standout to you?

“A couple of things stood out, even though it was a while ago. The first thing that stands out was the coaching staff. I got along great with their staff. The guys (players) were great too. I could see myself there. Everyone is as hungry as I am to win a championship. The other thing that stood out to me was the brotherhood of the teammates and the relationship with the coaches. I thought that was special. That really stood out to me about the Oregon program.”

You just visited LA on an official to USC. How did that trip go?

“That was an awesome visit. USC head coach, Coach (Clay) Helton, pulled me aside at one point and asked how the visit was going, for better or worse. I told him Coach Helton, it’s LA. I’m familiar with the town, but I told him USC is exactly what I expected it to be and even more. We got to live in the shoes of the players. We saw the behind the scenes stuff. We sat down with all the coaches. I met with their defensive coordinator, Coach (Clancy) Pendergast.

“We talked about how they would use me. They are going to play a 3-4 defense and use me at outside linebacker. The position I’d play is called Predator. The name of the position already sounds cool to me. Who wouldn’t want to be known as “The Predator” on the football field? I would be a true outside linebacker about 12 inches from tackle. I would drop back and rush. I would also play their “X”, one of their defensive end spots. In certain situations I’d move down with my hand on the ground. I really liked Coach Pendergast. I got to hang out with the guys on the team too. I loved their weight room. If I commit there, I would spend a lot of time down in their weight room with Coach (Ivan) Lewis.”

You have three other teams on your list, Michigan, Alabama, and Arizona State. You have scheduled visits with Michigan and Alabama left. How are you breaking down the schools or going through your evaluation process working your way to the program you want to play ball for in college?

“First off, all three schools are big programs. Honestly, I have no idea how I am going to decide. All of the schools are spread out everywhere, all over the map. All of the schools are powerhouses. I love all the coaches from all of the schools. I can’t wait to get out to Michigan and see their facilities and campus, meet with the coaches. I’ve talked to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh (head coach) a couple of times and some of their other coaches. I get along with all of them. I heard Ann Arbor is a big college town. I’m interested to see that as well.”

What about Alabama? How is your relationship with the Tide heading into your visit to Tuscaloosa?

“I talk to their outside linebackers coach, Coach (Tosh) Lupoi just about every day. Alabama just won the national championship. It would be hard to turn them down on National Signing Day. My Top 5 is crazy. This is a really tough decision.”

Does Bama losing Kirby Smart play into your decision?

“I don’t think it will.”

Oregon got a new defensive coordinator, Brady Hoke. Have you talked to Coach Hoke yet?

“I have not talked to him yet. The coach that was there, Coach (Erik) Chinander, was my guy. He was my position coach. Losing two coaches at Oregon (DC Don Pellum), I felt like I had lost two girlfriends in a month. That’s not a good feeling. Those two guys, I liked them a lot. If I go to Oregon, I’m wishing that they would be my position coach but I understand they are doing what’s best for them.

Have either of the coaches reached out to you since they left Oregon?

“Coach Chinander has contacted me since he got to Central Florida (UCF).”

Connor, thanks for your time and as always your candor. Good luck out on the recruiting trail and with your upcoming visits.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Murphy family; Connor at Oregon.

Photo credit: Murphy family; Connor at USC.