DeMarco Murray Has Program Record in Sight

Murray trails Steve Owens' 41-year-old career touchdown record by two.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:59 am

By: News On 6

DeMarco Murray Has Program Record in Sight

Originally Published: Oct 13, 2010 4:57 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – DeMarco Murray has been one of the Oklahoma Sooners’ most explosive running backs in recent memory, and he now sits within striking distance of breaking a long-standing OU record.

Murray’s two touchdowns against Texas last week brought his career total to 55, just two shy of Steve Owens’ program record set 41 years ago. Murray will face a weak defensive unit Saturday against Iowa State, giving him the opportunity to break the record in front of a home crowd.

“He's been very consistent and an excellent player for us for a long period of time here,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “Obviously when you look at breaking that record, with all of the great players we've had here and great running backs, DeMarco has consistently been a great worker and a big-play guy for us.”

Murray’s biggest season came in 2008, when he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He suffered an injury at the end of that season and another in 2009, but Stoops does not think he deserves the title of “injury prone.”

“I think too much has been talked about his unfortunate and odd injuries that he's had,” Stoops said. “He's had a lot of excellent seasons with it and a lot of success with it being that two of those injuries came at the end of the year.”

Murray was completely healthy during this past spring and summer, which allowed him to handle a full workload for the first time in years. That helped him morph from merely a big-play threat into a legitimate every-down running back.

Through five games this season, Murray already has a total of 130 carries, an average of 26 per game. In previous seasons, the most times he carried the ball through the same stretch was 85, an average of only 17 per game. Last season, he did not reach the 130 carry mark until the 10th game of the year.

Murray is on pace to carry the ball 312 times for 1,322 during the regular season, both of which would easily be career highs. He is generating Heisman Trophy buzz and is being mentioned in the same breath as other OU greats like Owens, Billy Sims, Joe Washington and Adrian Peterson. But that is not how he wants to be remembered.

“[I’m] just someone who made a lot of plays; a hard-working guy who cares for others and put the team before himself,” Murray said. “I love this university, I love being here, I love playing for Coach Stoops and it’s just an honor.”

Stoops and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson both praised Murray’s work ethic off the field and how he helps lead the younger players around him. Wilson said that will be Murray’s most lasting effect on the Oklahoma program.

“The thing that has impressed me and where I think he’s leaving a legacy with us outside of stats and where he is on the list, he’s becoming – like many of our great players – a great practice player and a great guy behind scenes and off the field that you guys don’t see,” Wilson said.