Murphy Helping Sun Devils Maintain a Strong Guard

When the phone rings in Dave White’s office, the Edison High football coach isn’t surprised if the caller is an NFL scout who wants to know more about Kyle Murphy.

Murphy, a 6-foot-4, 303-pound starting left guard for Arizona State, which faces Iowa in the Sun Bowl today wasn’t the most gifted or talented offensive lineman White has ever coached.

But White finds it tough to contain himself when he talks about Murphy, whose strong work ethic has made him one of the top line prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.

“I knew he’d be successful,” White said. “He wasn’t the best lineman to come out of the school, but he’ll go the farthest of any we’ve had because of his hard work ethic.”

The same story was related to college recruiters five years ago about Murphy, a two-year starter who was voted the Sunset League’s best offensive lineman in 1992.

“When colleges came through recruiting, I’d tell them that I would sell my soul for that kid,” White said. “I could guarantee that he wouldn’t give them any problems. He’s smart and consistent. He never has a bad game.”

Says Murphy, when told of White’s comments:

“I’m not the most gifted athlete, I know that,” he said. “I just go into practice and try to get better every day, and the only way I know how to do that is through hard work. It got me through high school and college and hopefully the NFL.”

Murphy, a first-team All-Pacific 10 selection and a second-team Sporting News All-American, is considered one of the top guards in the country.

His performance this season followed a sensational junior year in which, among many outstanding games, he was instrumental in helping the Sun Devils clinch a Rose Bowl berth with a 35-7 victory over California.

“He’s the best left guard in the Pac-10, if not in the country,” Sun Devil Coach Bruce Snyder said.

Murphy spent his freshman year in 1993 as a redshirt and started two games at right guard and also played some at center in 1994. He started the first four games of 1995 but injured his knee against Oregon State and missed four games. He reclaimed his starting job in the ninth game of the year against UCLA and played the final three games of the season without showing any effects of the injury.

Murphy was determined to come out strong his junior year. He made only one blocking error in the Sun Devils’ 19-0 upset of then-top-ranked Nebraska, and was eventually named second-team all-conference. The Sun Devils finished 11-1, losing to Ohio State, 20-17, in the Rose Bowl.

It’s difficult to think of a 300-pound football player as small, but Murphy isn’t considered to have a huge upper body and isn’t exceptionally strong by linemen’s standards. But what he lacks in those categories, he more than makes up for in other ways.

“In high school I was just average size,” he said. “Here, I don’t lift the massive amounts of weights that some of these guys do. But I work on technique to compensate for what I lack in size.”

He helped Arizona State average 193.8 yards rushing this season.

Murphy sees the game as one last chance for Arizona State to earn respect. His teammates have been eager to get back on the field since they were upset in their regular-season finale by Arizona, 28-16.

“We’re very excited about the bowl game,” Murphy said. “Of course, it’s not quite like the Rose Bowl, but it’s a big deal and we hope to play better and get the win this time.”