Report: Former NFL back DeMarco Murray considering joining UA staff
Dec 19, 2018, 11:43 AM
Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) carries while pursued by Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) during an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. The Titans won, 33-27. (Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP)
(Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP)
Three-time Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray is a candidate to land with Kevin Sumlin’s Arizona coaching staff as running backs coach, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Sumlin was on the coaching staff that recruited Murray to Oklahoma and coached the running back as a freshman in 2007, when Sumlin was the co-offensive coordinator for the Sooners.
Murray is currently a FOX analyst and played his last two NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
His three Pro Bowl seasons came in 2013, 2014 and 2016 — the three years of his seven-year NFL career in which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards.
Murray is most well-known for playing with the Dallas Cowboys from 2011-14. His last year in Dallas was his best, as he tallied 1,845 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles (2015) and then joined the Titans in 2016.
Two weeks ago, the Wildcats lost running backs coach Clarence McKinney, who was named Texas Southern’s head coach.
If Murray were to replace McKinney, he would coach Third Team All-American J.J. Taylor, who rushed for 1,434 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore. Arizona also returns sophomore Gary Brightwell (525 yards), freshman Darrius Smith (98 yards) and junior Anthony Mariscal (93 yards).
