April 8, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Latavius Murray had a linebacker draped over his inside shoulder and the pass to him during spring drills was well off target. He could have easily let the ball sail out of bounds and moved on to the next play, but what the UCF tailback did next gave a glimpse into his blossoming talents.
Murray used his inside arm to fend off Ray Shipman - no small feat considering that the linebacker is 6-foot-5 and a former Division I basketball player - and then reached out with his left arm and snagged the football with one hand. The play left Shipman shaking his head in frustration and left those on the UCF offense in awe at just how well-rounded their starting tailback has become.
Already the Most Valuable Player of the Conference USA title game and the Liberty Bowl and UCF's best runner, Murray has proven to be a dynamic weapon out of the backfield this spring catching the football as well. The involvement in the passing game as well as the ability to bust runs up between the tackles has shown that the ceiling for Murray might be even higher than some thought.
``He's such a great weapon for us with the way he runs the ball and catches it too,'' UCF quarterback Jeff Godfrey said. ``He runs such good routes and those hands of his are great. He's an awesome weapon for us to have in the backfield.''
Murray has been one of the bright spots this spring for the Knights, who are 10 workouts into the 15 allowed by the NCAA. On Saturday, the Knights will hold individual drills at the practice fields and then move into Bright House Networks Stadium for a scrimmage (10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.). UCF will work out twice more next week, walk-through game-like scenarios on Friday and then hold the Black and Gold Spring Game on Saturday, April 16.
In an 11-3 season full of national rankings and conference and bowl championships, Murray was quite possibly the best story of all for the Knights. He opened the year moved from his favored tailback spot to H-back and trying to get all the way back from tearing a ligament in his knee. But because of injuries to others, he methodically worked his way back up the depth chart. A third-stringer by the start of last season, Murray ended the year by dashing for the historic touchdown in the Liberty Bowl to beat Georgia and carrying around the enormous MVP trophy that featured the likeness of an eagle.
For Murray, even now months later, it all still seems so surreal. How a player could go from having thoughts of transferring to another school to UCF's hero is still mind-boggling to him. How a player could go from H-back to being the tailback who gashed SMU in the C-USA title game and Georgia in the Liberty Bowl is baffling. And how could the kid who once feared his football career was over following knee surgery evolve into a MVP?
``Every day I feel blessed because I know that I came from a long, long way down the line and down the depth chart,'' Murray said, still amazed almost eight months later. ``I mean I came from a different position, but I got to running back and I was so happy. But I don't take it for granted because I know it can all be taken away at any time.''
Murray's job as UCF's starting tailback won't be taken away anytime soon considering the second half of the season that he had and the work that he's put in this spring. In his first-ever start at tailback for the Knights, he gashed Tulane for 146 yards and a dazzling 46-yard touchdown run. He had two more rushing TDs the following week against Memphis, and then he sparked the UCF offense in the C-USA title game with rushing and receiving touchdowns and 94 yards on the ground.
And in the Liberty Bowl, Murray ripped off arguably the biggest play in school history - a tough 10-yard run over left guard - for the fourth-quarter touchdown that allowed UCF to beat Georgia 10-6.
This offseason, Murray has basked in the glow in being UCF's Big Man on Campus. But he's continued to work to make sure that he doesn't relax and continues to get better.
``It was a humbling experience. I'm not one to get into the hype and change who I am because I had some success. I still worked hard every day and worked in the weight room all offseason,'' Murray said. ``It felt really good knowing what I had done last season. But I'm just never going to be that guy who is cocky. I love the love showed to me and it just makes me want to go out here and do even bigger things this next season.''
Bigger things such as becoming a more explosive runner, a better pass protector and certainly catching the ball more out of the backfield have been areas where Murray has worked to get better this spring. Head coach George O'Leary has purposely shied away from overworking Murray this spring, but when he has touched the ball he's looked quicker and like one of the best players on the field.
``He just has great hands and we've got to utilize him even more out of the backfield next season. In fact, I always thought he'd be a great third down tight end because he can get vertical,'' O'Leary. ``But he's helping us out in so many areas now.''
Murray spectacular, one-handed grab in Thursday's practice was just one of many he's made this spring. The ability to catch the ball - combined with the possibility of teaming with returning standout Brynn Harvey in the backfield - will just made Harvey a more versatile weapon next season for the Knights.
``I think I'm better on my protections because I'm stronger. I'm also working on my speed and just trying to be a better back in every phase,'' Murray said. ``And catching the ball, that's another thing I'm trying to add to my game. If you are versatile, that's another way that they can work you into spots in the offense. I love catching the ball, so I hope I get plenty of chances to do that next season.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.