2020 NFL Draft: LB Kenneth Murray Scouting Report
By John Newman
High School/College Production
In an interview with SoonerSports.com, Murray described what made him “fall in love with the middle linebacker position”. In the article, he describes how he loved being “the smartest guy on the defense”, setting up his teammates for success. This fact is important to know since it helps explain how he can adjust to so many roles at a moment’s notice.
In high school, Murray was a better than average defender, used in a variety of roles based on the needs of the team. According to 247 Sports, Murray played defensive end, safety and outside linebacker at one time or another while in high school. He finished two seasons at Fort Bend Elkins high school with 160 total tackles, 24 tackles for a loss, 11 hurries and 5 sacks, according to MaxPreps.
Coming into college he was projected by 247 Sports to play outside linebacker, but Murray was able to find a role for himself on the Sooner defense as an inside linebacker. He immediately saw action during his first season in 2017 but was inconsistent as a freshman. While playing in all 13 games that year, Murray only had 68 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss and one sack.
The next two seasons are where we start to see Murray produce on the field, as he settled into a role as a middle of the field run stopper. It did not take long either as Murray went on a run during the first half of the 2018 season, racking up 64 total tackles and three sacks in the first four games of the year.
Most defensive stops since 2018:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 20, 2020
1. Evan Weaver, Cal - 147
2. Kenneth Murray, OU - 117 pic.twitter.com/W5FVbYhSUU
Overall, Murray finished his sophomore season with 155 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. For some perspective, Clemson linebacker Simmons finished his 2018 season with just 88 total tackles and two sacks, according to Sports Reference.
While shoring up the Sooners defense as a run-stopper, Murray gradually spent more time in coverage during his 2019 season. While Murray was useful as a run-defender and as an extra pass-rusher on third down, his coverage skills really started to show in 2019. Defending passes on underneath routes and screen passes, Murray finished his 2019 season with 17 tackles for a loss and four passes defended.