Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray Selected First Overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft

brettmadisonelliot via Flickr and NFL Comm.

NFL

Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray Selected First Overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals just selected Kyler Murray with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Murray is one of the most intriguing NFL prospects of all time. He went from Baker Mayfield’s fairly unknown replacement to a record-setting Heisman trophy winner in a single season. Oh, and did I mention he was also drafted in the first round of MLB draft? Let’s take a quick look at how Kyler Murray got here and his potential to take the NFL by storm.

High School

Kyler Murray was a great high school football player. *Kyler Murray was one of the greatest high school football players ever. *Kyler Murray was one of the greatest high school football players ever, playing in Texas. That’s right, Kyler Murray played high school football in Texas, where high school football is basically a religion. He led his team to three state championships. (Did I mention that those championships were in Texas?) And he had a perfect 42-0 record as a starter in high school. He absolutely dominated as a QB in high school, despite being seen as undersized, and was considered the best dual-threat QB in his class coming out of high school.

Also at this time, Murray played baseball. He absolutely dominated on the baseball diamond, as well. Many MLB teams considered drafting him straight out of high school, but he made his intentions to play college football clear. Ultimately, he committed to Texas A&M – where his dad is a football legend – to play both football and baseball. Still undersized, he was ultimately still viewed as a better baseball than football prospect.

College

When Murray arrived in College Station, he had to compete for the quarterback job. He started his first season as a backup, but by the end of the season he had cemented himself as the starter. However, in December 2015, he announced that he would be leaving Texas A&M and transferring to the University of Oklahoma. After sitting out the 2016 season per NCAA rules, Murray backed up Baker Mayfield during Mayfield’s 2017 Heisman Trophy season. He also played for the Oklahoma baseball team, putting together strong numbers and continuing to cement himself as a top MLB prospect.

In the 2018 MLB Draft, Murray was selected by the Oakland A’s with the 9th overall pick. He signed a contract with the A’s, but under the unprecedented condition that he would get to play one more football season. The A’s figured they would let Murray play the football out of his system, and then they could add a stud athlete to their farm system. Boy, were they wrong.

Murray’s 2018 Heisman Season

When Murray began the 2018 season, he was not a household name. Most casual college football fans knew him only as the guy trying to fill Baker Mayfield’s incredibly large shoes. No one expected Murray to be able to live up to the record setting season Baker Mayfield had just had. But then, Murray began playing. Murray absolutely dominated this past season, dragging the defensively horrible Oklahoma Sooners to win after win, eventually taking them to a second straight NCAA playoff. Murray completed incredible pass after incredible pass, put defenders on skates with his quickness and athleticism, and used his rocket arm to pick teams apart from inside the pocket. There was no pass he couldn’t complete; no defender he couldn’t juke.

Over the course of the season, Murray set multiple NCAA records for quarterbacks, including most yards per play and most yards per attempt. After his stunning season, Kyler Murray beat out Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa for the Heisman Trophy. Still, however, most people considered him undersized for the NFL and expected him to report to the Oakland A’s for spring training.

Baseball Vs. Football

After the football season ended, the speculation and hype around Murray grew and grew. NFL experts debated his ability to succeed at the NFL level, with some comparing him to Russell Wilson, while others said he was too small. But throughout all of this, most people assumed he would be going to the MLB. It was the smart choice, they said. It was safer, he could make more money, and he was more likely to succeed there. But then the rumors started. Murray wanted to play football, they said. That’s where his heart was. Teams would take him first overall if he went to the NFL. The A’s were freaking out, attempting to offer him millions of dollars to come play for them. After months of speculation, Murray made an announcement.

He then followed it up later around the NFL combine.

The A’s tried their best, but ultimately Murray made his decision. It was time to let the draft hype begin

Lead-Up to the Draft

He’s too small. He’s too short. He can’t take a hit. His hands aren’t big enough to hold an NFL football. That’s what they said. Then, he showed up at the combine. He didn’t participate in any drills, electing only to get measured. And that was all he needed. Murray measured and weighed in far above many people’s expectations, and it was enough to alleviate most people’s concerns. From that point on, his draft stock continued to rise. He went from being considered the third or fourth-best QB in the draft to being discussed as an almost certain lock for #1 overall.

So, What Can he Do?

Personally, I think the better question is what can’t he do? I have never seen a player as electric as Kyler Murray. He can hit any receiver anywhere on the field with incredible velocity, juke and scramble with the best of them, and man does he have heart. He loves football, and his decision to pass up on baseball proves it. Murray has the potential to be one of the most exciting NFL quarterbacks ever, and will certainly turn around the fate of the Cardinals. People say he won’t succeed at the NFL level. I say look at Baker Mayfield. Baker was also seen as undersized and many people contributed his success to Oklahoma’s system, as they do with Murray. Mayfield also just broke the NFL rookie passing touchdown record, despite not playing a full 16 games. And, well, Murray broke Mayfield’s records at Oklahoma. The sky is the limit for Murray, and he will be must watch television on Sundays for years to come.

Photo Credit

Featured image courtesy of brettmadisonelliot via Flickr and NFL Comm.

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