Signee Profile: Jordan Murphy
Jordan Murphy is flying under the radar a bit, but he has the potential to be a solid player for Tennessee in the coming years.
A Pride of the Southland member falls in line before the Vols play Kentucky on Nov. 12, 2016.
Biography
Jordan Murphy hails from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he played wide receiver for Hattiesburg High School. Although he’s one of the top players in the state, Murphy isn’t regarded as an elite prospect relative to others around the country. At around 6 feet tall and 165 pounds, Murphy needs to add more muscle to his frame, but possesses the tools to be an impact player at the wide receiver position for Tennessee.
Rankings
247Sports: No. 50 WR, No. 348 overall player in the class of 2017
Rivals: No. 27 WR, No. 172 overall player in the class of 2017
ESPN: No. 83 WR, Not ranked in the ESPN top 300 recruits for the class of 2017
Offers
Murphy received offers from a variety of schools, including some major SEC programs. Home state programs Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss all offered a scholarship, as did Alabama and LSU. Murphy committed to the Vols on July 21, 2016.
Film Review
In high school, Murphy showcased the ability to affect the game in a variety of ways. He has enough speed to burn a cornerback down the sideline and haul in a deep pass, and he’s quick and shift enough to turn a screen pass into a massive gain. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of his high school film was his ability to out-jump defenders when catching a pass. His height doesn’t stand out, but he is athletic and displayed proper timing when leaping to catch a pass at its high point.
Murphy’s versatility also allows him to play across the field, both in the slot and out wide. It’ll probably take some time for him to become a true contributor for the Vols, but in the process can add some weight to his 165-pound frame. Down the road, it’s possible that Murphy could prove to be a dangerous weapon for whoever Tennessee has at quarterback.
Edited by David Bradford
Featured image by Sumner Gillam
Quinn is an assistant sports editor for TNJN and a sophomore majoring in Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennesse. When he's not writing, he's probably doing something else. You can follow him on Twitter (@QuinnNotCook) or e-mail him at qpilkey@vols.utk.edu.
