Jordan Murphy

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Position:
Fullback
Height:
6-0
Weight:
230
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Castle Rock, Colo.
High School:
Lutheran/Colorado State

AT COLORADO: 2015 (Sr.)—He played in all 13 games (no starts) on both offense (fullback) and special teams. He never touched the ball on offense, as he was used in primarily a blocking role, but finished the year third in special team points with 24 (he had 59 ST points for his career, 13th in school history dating back to the start of the tabulation in 1987). He was in on nine tackles (seven solo, two inside-the-20), with 11 knockdown blocks on return unit duty, a caused penalty and a first downfield credit that altered the path of the return. The coaches presented him with the Tom McMahon Award, given to the player who displays great dedication and work ethic. Just prior to the start of August camp, he was placed on scholarship. The coaches also selected him as one of two recipients of the Bill McCartney Award, presented to most improved players on special teams in the spring.

2014 (Jr.)—He saw action in all 12 games, all on special teams, and in most on offense. He was CU’s special teams point champion with 30, as he was on eight tackles (six solo, four inside-the-20), with 16 knockdown blocks on the kickoff return unit; he also had a first downfield credit that altered a return into oncoming tacklers and a touchdown save. He saw spot action at his true position, fullback, but did not have any offensive statistics outside of logging many blocks for the other backs. In the spring, he did get three carries (for 10 yards) in the main scrimmages; those included a 1-yard plunge for a touchdown in the spring game (where he also caught a pass for four yards).

2013 (Soph.)—He saw action in 10 games, including one start (which came against Central Arkansas); he missed the USC game after suffering a concussion in practice leading up to the game, and as a result, he also didn’t travel to Utah or the season finale. He didn’t record any offensive statistics, but on special teams, he made five knockdown blocks that helped spring the return man for additional yardage. He had a solid spring, and caught a touchdown pass in one of CU’s four main scrimmages.

2012 (Soph.-RS)—He was ineligible to play due to NCAA transfer rules, as he joined the Buffs as an invited walk-on for August camp. He practiced the entire season at fullback, as the reason he transferred to CU from Colorado State was that the new coaching staff in Fort Collins didn’t utilize his position in their new offense.

AT COLORADO STATE: 2011 (Fr.)—He played in eight games, all on special teams, recording there tackles (two solo); he joined the team as a preferred walk-on for preseason drills.

HIGH SCHOOL—He earned first-team 1A All-State honors (Denver Post) as a junior and senior, along with first-team All-Metro South League honors his sophomore through senior years. He was selected as the conference’s defensive most valuable player his senior season, when he recorded 116 tackles (94 solo), with five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two forced; he had 10 or more tackles in eight of 10 games. Primarily a blocking fullback on offense, he rushed four times for 22 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards. Top games as a senior included racking up 16 tackles (11 solo) against Byers, 14 (all solo) versus Clear Creek and 13 (also all solo) against Nederland; against arch rival Denver Lutheran, in a 42-20 win, he had 15 tackles (12 solo), while also scoring a rushing touchdown. He set all his school tackles records for career, season and single-game. Under coach Daryl Moe, Lutheran was 6-4 his senior year; he was coached by Steve Fickert previously, with LHS going 4-5 his junior season, 5-4 his sophomore campaign and 4-5 his freshman year. He also lettered three times in track (throws, setting the school shot put record of 48-6 and placing fourth in the 2A state finals) and twice in basketball (guard).

ACADEMICS—He graduated with a degree in Business (Marketing) in December 2015. He earned honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic Team honors as a sophomore and senior, and as a junior and senior, he was an honorable mention Academic All-Colorado team member from the state’s chapter of the National Football Foundation.

PERSONAL—He was born June 7, 1993 in Littleton, Colo. His hobbies include playing the guitar (including in church) and singing. An uncle, Tom Murphy, played basketball at Colorado Christian University and holds the record for highest single-season scoring average (27.8 in 1990-91). He was a survivor of the Century 16 Theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., just after midnight on July 20, 2012; he was in Theater No. 9 where the gunman entered through an exit door and proceeded to murder 12 innocent people, including a 6-year old, and wound 58 others, paralyzing some for life. He knows he was lucky to escape the tragedy with his life, as at least one bullet whizzed by his head by no more than two inches.