I remember a QB from Mayo we took a chance on once.
Jerry From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Shane Ford Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:53 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Murphy aims to stick at QB [Aschoff] Murphy aims to stick at QB Image removed by sender. Rick Hartford/The Hartford Courant Buy <http://reprints.gainesville.com/cgi-bin/fotobroker.cgi?c=latest.htm&a=&op_b y_line=contains&by_line=Hartford&b=photo_db&s=&t=&show=3-4> photo Tyler Murphy looks to the applauding crowd at the Wethersfield High School gym after he signed a letter to play football at the University of Florida on National Signing Day. By Edward Aschoff Gainesville SUN Recruiting Beat Writer Published: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. Tyler Murphy has lived with "athlete" attached to his name for most of his football career. <http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100223/ARTICLES/100229774/1136?p=all&t c=pgall> Image removed by sender. Click to enlarge Wethersfield High's Tyler Murphy runs for a touchdown on Sept. 20, 2008. Buy photo <http://reprints.gainesville.com/cgi-bin/fotobroker.cgi?c=latest.htm&a=&op_b y_line=contains&by_line=McAndrews&b=photo_db&s=&t=&show=3-4> Michael McAndrews/The Hartford Courant It never bothered him. He embraced it. Now that the Wethersfield, Conn., quarterback has signed with Florida, he's looking to upgrade that title to quarterback. "The Florida coaches feel like I can play quarterback," Murphy said. "I'm going to take the time to learn and develop as a player." As a senior, Murphy threw for more than 1,100 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He did most of his damage on the ground, running the ball 130 times for 1,213 yards - including a long of 81 yards - and adding 15 more scores. Murphy also had 251 punt return yards and returned nine kickoffs for 316 yards, including a long of 80 yards. However, his only Football Bowl Subdivision offers before Florida's were from Syracuse and Temple, where he originally committed. Most saw him as a tremendous athlete, but a project at quarterback, leaving him to communicate with smaller schools. Scout.com East Regional Manager Bob Litchtenfels understood coaches' reluctance to recruit Murphy. While his feet can carry him in any conference, his throwing mechanics need work. "Personally, I don't think he's an SEC quarterback," Litchtenfels said, "but <http://www.gainesville.com/section/TOPIC0102/> Tim Tebow's not the greatest passer in the world, either, and he turned out to be one of the best players in college football in that system. "Is he a reach as far as Florida? Hell yeah, when you look that they can recruit five-star kids across the country. Obviously, they saw something that they liked in the kid, athletically, and they think it's worth the risk. "If he doesn't turn out at quarterback, then he can go to another position and give you depth there. At the end of the day, quarterback, wide receiver, safety, he's still an athlete." But Florida coach Urban Meyer is confident in him as a quarterback. Florida first recruited the 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect a couple of weeks before National Signing Day, after Notre Dame quarterback commit Andrew Hendrix reaffirmed his commitment to the Irish following his official visit to Florida. Florida's coaches then popped in tapes of various quarterbacks, but it was Murphy's that stood out. "I'm just watching video tape and we watched 15 quarterbacks - one right after another - and all of a sudden five or six of us are watching it and said, 'Whoa, run that one back,' " Meyer said on signing day. "All of a sudden, we got a little feel for him as a player. "We went out and tried to find the best dual-athlete we could find that was still available and you watch his highlight film ... kind of a freakish athlete with the ball in his hands, and he can throw it." Interim head coach/offensive coordinator Steve Addazio was already familiar with Murphy. He and Murphy's father attended grade school together, adding more comfort to his recruitment. Murphy isn't naive about his issues. His balance, footwork and release need work, but Murphy said guidance will make him mentally and fundamentally ready to compete. When he's ready is yet to be determined, but Murphy said he's aware that he and fellow freshman QB Trey Burton are one John Brantley injury away from starting. Murphy hopes that's not how his Gator career starts, but he insists he'll be ready for anything. "I've thought about it a little bit, but I hope to God (Brantley) doesn't get hurt," he said. "I have to earn my playing time, but if something like that does happen, I'm going to have to be ready. When my number is called I'll be ready to go." -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
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