Byron Murphy says he ‘ate himself out of’ running back position, still has heart in it

It would be a massive mistake to think that linemen aren’t athletes. As Byron Murphy of Texas explained, he was well on his way to playing running back, but just kept eating and ended up bringing his talents to the defensive line unit instead.

Murphy explained that he’s one of the toughest to knock the ball away from during fumble drills because he used to be a running back.

“I’d probably say either me or [T’Vondre] Sweat,” Byron Murphy said. “Sweat is a strong guy, yeah. I played running back — the crazy thing, I played running back from since I was five all the way until ninth grade. That’s when I stopped playing running back…I ate myself out of the position. Yeah, that’s where my heart’s at.”

Later, one of the reporters Murphy was speaking with jokingly asked him what type of runner he was and Murphy explained that he’s an all-around runner.

“Man, I was everything. I was a straight running back,” Murphy said before adding that it would be good to get some goal-line carries. “I hope so. I hope so, I hope I can get it.”

Steve Sarkisian may have to find a Refrigerator Perry formation if Byron Murphy knows how to run the ball. After all, at his size, he’d be tough for any defense to stop in short yardage. Still, the talented defensive lineman is important enough to the Texas defense that he’s probably going to stay focused on that side of the ball.

Last season, Murphy played in all 13 games for Texas, clogging up the middle of the field. He ended the season with 26 tackles, three of which were tackles for a loss. To help the Longhorns improve, Murphy knows he needs to play a key role.

“I’m ready, but right now I’m not really worried about the hype,” Murphy said. “I’m focused on winning and helping my team win. That’s really all that matters to me.”

Byron Murphy says only Texas can stop itself

Expectations coming into the 2023 season are as high as they’ve been in a very long time for Texas, with many predicting they’ll win the Big 12. However, the Longhorns haven’t won the conference since 2009. So, nothing is a given.

Still, Byron Murphy says that the only thing that can stop Texas in 2023 is Texas itself.

“It’s [only] us that’s gonna stop ourselves,” Murphy said. “We’ve got everything we need. We’ve got all the pieces. Offense and on the defensive side of the ball. So it’s really on us.”

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