Fresh off another intense workout, Byron Murphy casually dribbles the ball behind his back before hoisting up a deep three-pointer at XSOS in north Phoenix. A few fellow NFL prospects are there “talking trash” as Murphy continues his shooting display. Basketball may have been his first love but football will officially be his career in the coming weeks as the former Saguaro High and University of Washington star cornerback is expected to be a first-round draft pick.
I Gave it All I Could Give. I Made it Hot at The Krib??? pic.twitter.com/wo6vQy4Iyx
— Byron Murphy JR (@byronmurphy) January 22, 2019
“The journey has been amazing,” Murphy said to Sports360AZ.com. “Coming into high school being a basketball player and then trying football. Football came and I think it was the best decision for me to make.”
You could say that.
The highly touted two-way star at #SagU picked Chris Petersen and the Huskies over a myriad of power programs such as USC, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Florida State among others.
His three years in Seattle brought growth both on off the field.
“I think it was the best opportunity for me, it was the best thing for me to do,” Murphy explained. “The weather is kind of different (smiling). Rain [and] kind of cold…just going up there and becoming a better person and a better man.”Following the Rose Bowl “BJ,” as he’s affectionately known, returned to Phoenix to begin training. His hard work and dedication paid off as he dazzled NFL scouts and personnel in Indianapolis at The Combine.
Known for his tight cover skills and ability to tackle in space, Murphy focused on improving two key areas in his game the past three months.
“My weight was my number one thing,” he said. “Just gaining weight. I’ve gained about 14 pounds since I’ve been in Arizona training at XSOS. The second thing was my speed. I’ve just been going out there and going my hardest.”
Murphy ran a 4.55 40-yard dash and looked fluid in nearly drill. His production at Washington (seven interceptions, 20 pass breakups in 87 targets) speaks to his long-term potential at the next level.
He also has a little extra motivation when he’s between the white lines.
“When I’m out there at practice I’m just thinking about my family, also my son,” Murphy said of his young boy Maliki. “Having a son you need to think about what his future is…as he was born, it kind of changed my mindset a lot.”
Murphy’s mindset is now solely focused on family and football…but his jump shot’s never left.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.