Scouting Report: Byron Murphy II (IDL) - Texas
Sales Pitch: "Dynamic defensive lineman with the speed and power to be a top pass rusher in this league. While a little undersized, he shows the ability to win from a variety of alignments and create disruption on all three downs"
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 0 1/2”
Weight: 297 lbs
Arm Length: 32 3/8”
Hand Size: 10 1/4”
40 Yard Dash: 4.87
10 Yard Split: 1.69
Vertical: 33”
Broad Jump: 9’ 3”
Short Shuttle: 4.50
3-Cone: 7.50
Age: 21
Relative Athletic Score: 9.23 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 76 Pressures - 9 Sacks - 51 Tackles - 49 STOPs
2023: 45 Pressures - 6 Sacks - 15 Tackles - 21 STOPs
Strengths
Tremendous athlete with high level quickness and agility
Creates disruption as a run defender with his get off and burst
Drops to one knee to take on and defeat double teams in the run game
Quick violent hands allow him to quickly shed blockers
Displays the ability to win with speed or power as a pass rusher
Primary 3T who can slide inside and take take rotational snaps at 1T or 0T
Above average pass rush plan with a good set of moves and counters
Lateral agility to quickly find gaps on stunts and twists
Ranked in the top five for PR, HUR, and WIN% among DL in 2023
Weaknesses
Undersized with short arms
Aggressive nature can lead to him running himself out of plays
Motor can turn on and off
Tends to be late off the ball vs the run causing him to lose his leverage
Lacks the size or anchor ability to live as a 2-gap run defender
When his pads get too high, OL can get significant displacement on him in the run game
438 snaps (31 per game) ranked 171st in the nation
18% missed tackle rate in 2023
Summary
Byron Murphy II is a dynamic interior defensive lineman with the strength and quickness combo to create disruption in all facets of the game. The former 4-Star recruit from the state of Texas was the Big-12 DL of the Year in 2023 and ranked as one of the best pass rushers in all of college football on the interior. Murphy’s game is built around his burst and quickness off the line. He is at his best as a run defender when asked to create penetration and disruption. While he has the strength and flexibility to take on blocks at the point of attack - including a particularly unique way of going down to one knee to defeat double teams - he is undersized for a defensive tackle and gets moved off his spot by bigger lineman. Murphy has quick violent hands that allow him to quickly shed blocks and fill his gap, making him the ideal 3T in a single gap even front. Murphy is going to make his impact (and his money) as a pass rusher at the next level. He has the quickness and play strength to win with both speed and power as a pass rusher. He has a deep bag that features a swim move, push-pull and club rip with a euro step and spin move to counter. Murphy shows the ability to win as a rusher from a variety of alignments as both a straight up rusher and on stunts and twists. Murphy is projected to be a first rounder in the draft but may need to start in a more rotational role. His motor turns and off, particularly in the run game, and his 438 snaps played ranked 171st (164 Run D snaps ranked 278th) in the nation in 2023. Add in a 18% missed tackle rate and issues running himself out of plays in the run game, Murphy’s game needs some polishing at the next level. He fits best as a starting 3T in an even front that asks him to win attacking upfield. At only 21 years old and already a well put together pass rusher he brings the tools and upside the league loves at a position ever growing in value and could very well be the top defensive player off the board come April.