UTSA Kicker Jaffer Murphy Breaks the Internet With 70-Yard Kick and Blazing 40 Time

SAN ANTONIO — The 2026 NFL Draft is just a month away, but one specialist just flipped the scouting world on its head. UTSA kicker Jaffer Murphy didn’t just perform at his pro day; he launched a rocket from 70 yards out and blazed a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. That speed mirrors top-tier athletes like CeeDee Lamb and Aaron Jones, putting NFL front offices on high alert as they finalize their draft boards.

Read More: UTSA Kicker Jaffer Murphy Breaks the Internet With 70-Yard Kick and Blazing 40 Time

A Freak Athlete in a Kicker’s Body

Scouts traveled to Texas looking for hidden gems, but they left talking about the kicker. Murphy lined up and drilled 12 of his 13 field goal attempts, capping the session with a bomb from 70 yards. To put that distance in perspective, Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little set the official NFL record in November 2025 with a 68-yard make. Murphy cleared that mark with room to spare.

Read More: 2026 NFL Draft Stock Report: Caldwell’s 4.31 Speed Breaks the Combine

The leg strength drew applause, but the stopwatch dropped jaws. You could almost feel the tension in the air as scouts huddled together, staring at their times in disbelief. Running a 4.50-second 40-yard dash is unheard of for a specialist. That matches the testing speed of projected 2026 edge rusher David Bailey. In an era where the new NFL kickoff rules force kickers to be active tacklers, Murphy brings a lethal combination of power and closing speed. Opposing returners won’t just see a kicker downfield; they will see a heat-seeking missile ready to hit.

“I believe that I can come down there and show you guys what you need to see. I drove 20 straight hours from North Carolina-Chapel Hill down here to San Antonio, Texas, just for the chance.”
— Jaffer Murphy, UTSA Kicker

Draft Implications / What’s Next

Specialists rarely hear their names called early, but front offices like the San Francisco 49ers are already expressing serious interest. Jake Moody went 99th overall in 2023, and Murphy’s unique profile might just force a team to use a middle-round pick rather than risk losing him in undrafted free agency. The strategic advantage of a kicker who can boom touchbacks, nail 60-plus yarders, and legitimately chase down a rogue returner is massive. Expect Murphy to receive numerous private workout invites over the next few weeks as special teams coordinators try to figure out exactly how to deploy him.