Cardinals carry heavy Arizona high school football flavor

Apr 28, 2019, 6:06 AM | Updated: 8:00 am

Arizona Cardinals NFL football second-round draft pick Byron Murphy is introduced, Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the Cardinals' practice facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

BY TOM KUEBEL

Arizona Sports

Arizona roots define new Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy, the team’s second round draft pick out of Washington.

He is not alone.

Murphy is one of six players on the Cardinals roster who played high school football in the Valley.

“I wanted to come here it’s my home town. It was a dream come true, so emotional,” Murphy said at his introductory press conference on Saturday.

He will be rejoined with high school teammate, Christian Kirk. The duo led Saguaro High School to an undefeated state championship season in 2014 with Kirk as a senior and Murphy as a junior.

Cardinals running back D.J. Foster also spent his high school playing days with the Saguaro Sabercats.

When asked who was the best of the three, Murphy didn’t hold back.

“Me,” Murphy said with a big grin.

The Cardinals also brought in three players through free agency with Arizona high school football roots.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs (Hamilton High School), quarterback Brett Hundley (Chandler High School) and linebacker Brooks Reed (Sabino High School in Tucson) all began their careers chasing an Arizona state football championship. Now they are chasing a bigger prize.

“Coming in trying to get to the Super Bowl, that’s my goal. We are trying to win, you know?” Murphy said.

While he finished his career at Saguaro, Murphy began his career at a different Arizona high school with the guy drafted one spot ahead of him before they both transferred, former Arizona State receiver N’Keal Harry.

“We went to Marcos de Niza High School together,” Murphy said. “When he got picked, it was emotional for me because I texted him, ‘bro, that’s crazy, back-to-back picks.'”

Harry was taken with the No. 32 overall pick and was the last pick of the first day and the first round by the New England Patriots.

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Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray waves after the Arizona Cardinals selected Murray in the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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