DeMarco Murray

DeMarco Murray

No. 29     Dallas Cowboys
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1988-02-12) February 12, 1988
Place of birth: Las Vegas, Nevada
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight: 219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Las Vegas (NV) Gorman
College: Oklahoma
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 3 / Pick: 71
Debuted in 2011 for the Dallas Cowboys
Career history
Dallas Cowboys (2011–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2013) Dallas Cowboys single game rushing record, 253 yards CBS All-Iron Award (2013, Week 13) FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week (2011, Week 7) Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week (2011, Week 7) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (2011, November)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2013
Rushing yards 2,681 Rushing average 5.0 Rushing touchdowns 15 Receptions 114 Receiving yards 784 Receiving touchdowns 1 Stats at NFL.com

DeMarco Murray (born February 12, 1988) is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.

High school career

DeMarco Murray attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was an all-conference pick three consecutive years. During his time at Gorman, his team was 3-time Conference Champions. As a senior in 2005, he rushed for 1,947 yards and 27 touchdowns and also caught 22 passes for 624 yards and 7 touchdowns, earning him all-state honors and the 2005 Sunset Region Offensive Player of the Year award. Murray played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Considered one of the top running backs of his class alongside Chris Wells, C. J. Spiller and Michael Goodson, Murray drew offers from Miami (Fl.), Penn State and Texas A&M among others. He chose Oklahoma over Southern California at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.^[1]

College Career

Murray redshirted the 2006 NCAA football season. In his first game for the Oklahoma Sooners on September 1, 2007 vs. University of North Texas, Murray rushed for 87 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the first player to score four touchdowns in a half in his Sooner debut.^[2] On September 15, 2007 against Utah State University, Murray entered the Oklahoma football record book when he had a touchdown run of 92 yards, which is the third longest in Oklahoma football history.^[3]

Murray tied Adrian Peterson's freshman touchdown record in 2007 with 15.

He logged a 4.40 (team best) 40 time^[4] and a 36.5-inch vertical jump^[4] during the 2007 winter testing.

On October 16, 2010 Murray passed Steve Owens as the all-time touchdown leader at the University of Oklahoma with 58 touchdowns. He ended his college career with 65 touchdowns, becoming only the fifth player in Big 12 conference history to score at least 60 career touchdowns.

Murray had 3,685 career rushing yards (4.86 avg.) with 50 touchdowns, 157 career catches with 13 touchdowns, and 1,462 kickoff return yards with 2 touchdowns.

Career Records at University of Oklahoma

• All-Time Leader in Points Scored (390)
• All-Time Leader in Touchdowns (65)
• All-Time Leader in All Purpose Yards (6,718)
• All-Time Leader in Receiving Yards for a Running Back (1,571)
• All-Time Leader in Kickoff Return average (27.6)

College Stats

Season		Rushing					Receiving					Kick Returns				Fumbles
Year	Team	Att	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	KR	Yds	Avg	TD	Fum	Lost
2007	OU	127	764	6.0	92	13	14	60	4.3	25	0	15	439	29.3	2	0	0
2008	OU	179	1,002	5.6	70	14	31	395	12.7	34	4	28	774	27.6	0	0	0
2009	OU	171	705	4.1	38	8	41	522	12.7	67	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
2010	OU	282	1,214	4.3	63	15	71	594	8.4	76	5	10	249	24.9	0	0	0
Career	Total	759	3,685	5.0	92	50	157	1,571	10.0	76	13	53	1,462	27.6	2	0	0

Professional career

2011 NFL Combine

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6 ft 0 in	213 lb	4.37 s	1.52 s	2.53 s	4.18 s	7.28 s	34.5 in	10 ft 10 in	21 reps
All values from NFL Combine.[5]

Murray was drafted in the third round (71st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.^[6] Murray was the sixth running back chosen in the draft after Mark Ingram (1st round, 28th overall by New Orleans Saints), Ryan Williams (2nd round, 38th overall by Arizona Cardinals), Shane Vereen (2nd round, 56th overall by New England Patriots), Mikel Leshoure (2nd round, 57th overall by Detroit Lions) and Daniel Thomas (2nd round, 62nd overall by Miami Dolphins).

Dallas Cowboys (2011-present)

Murray signed a four-year contract with the Cowboys worth $2.97 million including a signing bonus worth $622,000 on July 29, 2011.^[7][8]

2011 Season (Rookie)

DeMarco Murray started the year as the third string running back on the team behind starter Felix Jones and second string running back Tashard Choice. From week one to week four, Murray had 14 carries for 39 rushing yards (2.78 average) and added 3 receptions for 16 receiving yards. On October 16, the Cowboys traveled to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Patriots. Felix Jones went down with a high-ankle sprain, which increased the amount of opportunities for Murray. Murray finished the day with 11 carries for 34 yards and added 1 reception for 7 yards.^[9][10]

With the Cowboys owning a record of 2-3, the Cowboys faced the St. Louis Rams in week seven. Felix Jones was declared out for the game due to the high ankle sprain injury sustained the week before. The team declared Tashard Choice as the starter for the game and Murray as the second string running back. Murray ran for 253 yards on 25 carries against the St. Louis Rams^[11] breaking Emmitt Smith's single game rushing record for a Cowboys running back of 237 yards (set at Philadelphia against the Eagles on October 31, 1993). The record total included a first-quarter 91-yard touchdown run that is second longest in Cowboys history, after a NFL-record 99-yard run by Tony Dorsett in January 1983. Among the other records he set during this game were a rookie rushing record for a game in club history, previously held by Tony Dorsett (206 yards in 1977). His 10.1 yards-per-carry is the highest rushing average with 20-or-more attempts for a game in club history, previously held by Tony Dorsett (8.96 in 1977), the 10th most rushing yards in a game in league history, the second-most rushing yards in a game by a rookie in league history, second-longest touchdown run on a player’s first career rushing touchdown in league history, and the most rushing yards by a running back in one game ever allowed by the Rams in club history (Los Angeles and Saint Louis). Murray earned the Rookie of the Week award and FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for his game against the Rams. After the St. Louis Rams' game, Tashard Choice was released leaving the team with only two healthy running backs, rookie Phillip Tanner and Murray, with Felix Jones still sidelined with an injury.^[12][13][14]

Murray followed his record-breaking game by getting the first start of his career against the Eagles in week nine. In week eight and nine, Murray totaled 30 carries for 213 rushing yards (7.1 average) and 5 receptions for 45 yards. With his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season, Murray became the first Cowboy since Julius Jones in 2004 to post multiple 100+ yard rushing games as a rookie. With 466 rushing yards over the last three games, Murray tied Eric Dickerson for the fifth-highest total all-time by an NFL rookie during a three-game span. The record is 577 set by Mike Anderson of the Denver Broncos in 2000. The 466 rushing yards in the three game span is the most ever by any Cowboys player, surpassing 446 yards by Emmitt Smith during his MVP season of 1993.^{[15][16][17][18][19][19]}

From week ten to week thirteen, Murray had a total of 79 carries for 333 rushing yards (4.21 rushing average) and added 16 receptions for 109 receiving yards and one rushing touchdown as the Cowboys went 3-1 during this stretch. In week ten against the Buffalo Bills, Murray fumbled the ball for the first time in his professional career, although the fumble was recovered by Murray himself. In week fourteen vs. the New York Giants, Murray carried the ball 5 times for 25 yards and added one reception for 6 yards before suffering a fractured right ankle and high ankle sprain that ended his rookie season. Murray was named NFL Rookie of the Month for the month of November.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]}

At the end of the 2011 season, Murray led all NFL rookie players (with 40 or more carries) in average per carry (5.5 per carry), yards per game (69.0 yards) and rushing yards (897 yards) on 164 carries (second most among rookie players, Daniel Thomas had 165 carries). Murray tied for third among rookie players for rushing touchdowns with 2; Carolina Panthers' quarterback and 2011 Rookie of the Year Cam Newton led all rookie players with 14 rushing touchdowns. Murray also was 14th in receptions among all rookie players and 2nd among rookie running backs with 26 receptions. He was also 4th in receiving yards among rookie running backs with 183. Among all NFL running backs, Murray with 7 starts in 12 games, tied for the second highest average per carry for a running back with 80 or more carries trailing only Darren Sproles' 6.9 yards per carry on 63 attempts. Murray's 897 rushing yards ranked 22nd among all NFL running backs and 9th in the NFC.The Cowboys went 5-0 for the season when Murray received 20+ touches in the game and 2-5 when he did not. In the five games where Murray got 20 or more touches, starting quarterback Tony Romo averaged a passer rating of 112.10, 246.6 yards per game, along with 12 combined touchdown passes with 2 interceptions and a 66.99% pass completion rate.^[27]

2012 Season

Murray began the 2012 season as the Dallas Cowboys' lead running back. He had 20 carries for 131 yards and 2 catches for 9 yards in the Cowboys' opening 24-17 win over the defending Super Bowl Champions the New York Giants.

He accumulated 106 rushing yards on 41 carries, 105 receiving yards on 14 receptions, one touchdown and one fumble in weeks 2-4 against the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Chicago Bears as the Cowboys went 1-2 in the three game span to the start the season 2-2.

Following the week 5 bye, Murray rushed for a 93 yard performance on 14 carries before suffering a sprained foot in the 31-29 week 6 loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens. The injury was thought to be season-ending,^[28] but Murray was able to return for the week 13 competition against the Philadelphia Eagles after missing 6 games.

After returning from injury, Murray rushed his way to 83 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries against division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.

In week 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Murray recorded his 3rd touchdown of the year while rushing for only 53 yards on 21 attempts. This marks the eighth straight game where the Cowboys have won with Murray rushing the ball 20 or more times as the starting running back.

He would finish the season with 289 total yards in the final three games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and the Philadelphia Eagles, carrying the ball 42 times while adding 10 receptions. He fumbled the ball twice in the three game span, bringing his season total to 3, and recorded one more touchdown against the Steelers to finish with 4 on the year.

Despite playing in just 10 games, Murray finished the season with 161 carries for 663 yards, for a career-low average of 4.1 yards per carry. He also had 251 receiving yards on 35 receptions.

2013 Season

In the season opener against the New York Giants,^[29] Murray rushed for 86 yards on 20 carries. He also had 8 catches for 39 yards, a total of 125 yards from scrimmage on 28 touches.

Week 2 was a tough outing against the Kansas City Chiefs^[30] defense, as he had only 25 yards on 12 carries, a 2.1 YPC average. 49 yards on 5 catches brought his game total to 74 total yards.

In week 3, the second time DeMarco Murray played the St. Louis Rams^[31] in his 3 year career, he totaled 203 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. Murray recorded 175 yards on 26 carries and 28 from 3 catches. This marks the second time in as many games he has ran for over 150 yards against the St. Louis Defense.

Over the course of the next three games versus the San Diego Chargers,^[32] Denver Broncos,^[33] and Washington Redskins^[34] Murray tallied 142 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns, an average of 4.3 yards per attempt. He tacked on another 48 yards on 8 receptions, bringing his 3 game total to 190 scrimmage yards.

Following the week 6 game against division rivals the Washington Redskins, Murray suffered a sprained MCL, and missed the next two games versus the Philadelphia Eagles^[35] and the Detroit Lions.^[36] Rookie Joseph Randle took Murray's place as second string running back Lance Dunbar was also battling an injury of his own.

Returning from injury in week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings,^[37] he carried only 4 times for 31 yards, an average of 7.8 yards per attempt as the Dallas coaching staff abandoned the running game completely. Although he didn't have many opportunities in this game, Murray really got things going from here on, as 61% of his rushing yards came from the second half of the season.

Week 10 was a better outing for the 3rd year back, as he managed 89 yards on 16 rushes and one touchdown in a 49-17 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints.^[38]

Following the week 11 bye, Murray recorded a similar stat line to that of the game in week one, against the same team, the New York Giants.^[39] He ran for 86 yards on 14 carries, and another 40 yards on 3 catches. Murray finished the game with 126 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches, as Dallas finished the season sweep of their division rivals.

On Thanksgiving night, Murray had 102 total yards and 3 touchdowns to lead Dallas to a 31-24 victory over the Oakland Raiders,^[40] and earned the CBS All-Iron Award with two other Cowboys, Tony Romo and Lance Dunbar.

In weeks 14 and 15, Murray carried the ball 18 times in both games, with 146 yards courtesy of the NFL's 32nd ranked rushing defense, the Chicago Bears.^[41] He added 134 yards and one touchdown against the Green Bay Packers^[42] in a devastating 37-36 loss.

During the week 16 season sweep of the Washington Redskins,^[43] Murray ran for 96 yards on 22 carries along with two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving), and became the first Cowboys running back to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season since Julius Jones ran for 1,084 yards in 2006. The Cowboys are 11-0 all time when Murray receives 20 or more carries and 6-14 when he receives less than 20 carries as the starting running back.

In the season closer against soon-to-be division champs, the Philadelphia Eagles,^[44] he had 51 yards coming from 17 carries and another 39 yards from 5 receptions. Murray was fined $21,000 for violating the crown-of-the-helmet rule on a collision with Eagles' defensive lineman Damion Square.^[45]

Murray finished the productive season ranked 11th in total yards from scrimmage with 1,471, while still missing 2 games due to injury. He had a 217 carries for 1,121 yards and 9 touchdowns, all career highs and ranking (T)17th, 10th and (T)6th respectively among running backs. His 5.2 yards per attempt was the most in the league by players with 150 or more attempts. He also recorded 53 catches for 350 yards and one touchdown, ranking 11th, 14th and (T)16th among backs.

Murray replaced San Fransisco's Frank Gore to play in the 2014 Pro Bowl, after Gore got injured during the NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks. This marks his first Pro Bowl since joining the league in 2011. He ran for 25 and caught another 37 yards as he sccored the eventual game-winning touchdown on a 20 yard reception by Kansas City's Alex Smith to give Team Rice the 22-21 win.

Career Stats

Season				Rushing					Receiving
Year	Team	GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
2011	DAL	13	7	164	897	5.5	91	2	26	183	7.0	18	0
2012	DAL	10	10	161	663	4.1	48	4	35	251	7.2	22	0
2013	DAL	14	14	217	1,121	5.2	43	9	53	350	6.6	22	1
Career	Total	37	31	542	2,681	5.0	91	15	114	784	6.9	22	1

Personal life

On June 20, 2013 actress Heidi Mueller gave birth to DeMarco Murray's first child, a daughter, Savanna June. ^[46]

See also

• List of Division I FBS rushing touchdown leaders

References

External links

• DeMarco Murray's Official Website
• Oklahoma Sooners bio
• Dallas Cowboys bio
• DeMarco Murray on Twitter
• DeMarco Murray on Facebook

v t e Dallas Cowboys 2011 NFL Draft selections Tyron Smith Bruce Carter DeMarco Murray David Arkin Josh Thomas Dwayne Harris Shaun Chapas Bill Nagy Draft years: 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

v t e Dallas Cowboys current roster Active roster 5 Dan Bailey 6 Chris Jones 9 Tony Romo 11 Cole Beasley 17 Dwayne Harris 18 Kyle Orton 19 Miles Austin 20 B. W. Webb 21 Joseph Randle 23 Jakar Hamilton 24 Morris Claiborne 26 Sterling Moore 27 J. J. Wilcox 29 DeMarco Murray 32 Orlando Scandrick 34 Phillip Tanner 38 Jeff Heath 39 Brandon Carr 40 Danny McCray 42 Barry Church 44 Tyler Clutts 50 Sean Lee 51 Kyle Wilber 52 Justin Durant 53 Cameron Lawrence 54 Bruce Carter 56 Martez Wilson 57 DeVonte Holloman 58 Kyle Bosworth 59 Ernie Sims 65 Ronald Leary 67 Phil Costa 68 Doug Free 69 Corvey Irvin 70 Drake Nevis 71 Everette Brown 72 Travis Frederick 73 Mackenzy Bernadeau 75 Darrion Weems 77 Tyron Smith 78 Jermey Parnell 82 Jason Witten 83 Terrance Williams 84 James Hanna 88 Dez Bryant 89 Gavin Escobar 91 L. P. Ladouceur 92 Jarius Wynn 94 DeMarcus Ware 96 Nick Hayden 97 Jason Hatcher 98 Orie Lemon 99 George Selvie Reserve lists 25 Lance Dunbar (IR) 37 Matt Johnson (IR) 55 Edgar Jones (IR-DFR) 64 Brian Waters (IR) 79 Ben Bass (IR) 93 Anthony Spencer (IR) -- Marvin Austin (IR) -- Ryan Cook (IR) -- Tyrone Crawford (IR) Practice squad 16 Tim Benford 28 George Winn 61 John Wetzel 66 Ray Dominguez 80 Jameson Konz 81 Lanear Sampson 85 Jamar Newsome 95 Caesar Rayford AFC East BUF MIA NE NYJ North BAL CIN CLE PIT South HOU IND JAX TEN West DEN KC OAK SD NFC East DAL NYG PHI WAS North CHI DET GB MIN South ATL CAR NO TB West ARI STL SF SEA

Persondata
Name	Murray, DeMarco
Alternative names
Short description	Player of American football
Date of birth	February 12, 1990
Place of birth	Marietta, georgia
Date of death
Place of death