The smoke around DeMarco Murray leaving Oklahoma to join Ohio State was real. This was proven so on Wednesday as the Sooners reportedly offered Murray a three-year extension to stay in Norman with the Sooners. Should Murray have left for Ohio State, the Sooners would have taken a major hit on the coaching staff during spring football, a prime time for development.
According to Pete Nakos of On3, the Sooners are giving Murray a three-year extension to remain with Oklahoma, coaching the running back room.
Not only is Murray a solid running backs coach, which was proven after he coached at Arizona for one season before landing a job with Oklahoma, but he provides an incredible spark on the recruiting trial. He’s helped reel guys like Kennedy Brooks, Eric Gray and Gavin Sawchuk to Norman. The outlook of the running back position remains strong, and he’s going to have consistently high-rated running backs joining his room over the next few years.
With an opening in their running backs room, the Ohio State Buckeyes tried to come in and steal Murray from the Sooners as they’re going to have a revamped offense under Chip Kelly’s guidance. Ryan Day and his Buckeyes staff had to hav been close to getting Murray out of Norman for Oklahoma to have given him the contract extension.
Of course, Murray is an alum of Oklahoma, having played for the program from 2007 to 2010. He rushed for 3,685 yards and 50 touchdowns, adding 1,571 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in the air to his resume. He had a successful NFL career, which saw him win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Kelly, Ohio State’s new offensive coordinator, coached Murray with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015. The Sooners, heading into the SEC, already have had plenty of turnover on the staff, and they’re bolstering up for their first season in the stout conference, which will need to see improved play.
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