Maurice Murray has been through a lot this season.
He’s been through tackles, he’s been through tough blocks in the mud and he’s been through the goal line into the end zone. But he’s also been through a personal illness before the season and the unenviable task of burying his big brother last week.
Despite all this, the 5-foot, 11-inch, 230-pound sophomore Husky running back is having a career season, racking up 707 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground in only seven games.
Coach Rocky Hager said Murray suffered from acute kidney failure in the offseason, causing him to miss much of fall camp. Its wear is apparent looking at his production early on compared to the all-conference caliber back he’s been as of late. He tallied less than 100 yards combined in the first two games of the season, but began to return to form in week three at Villanova with 80 on the ground. And over the past four contests he’s averaged 133 yards per game.
“[Murray] had renal failure and that was life-threatening,” Hager said. “He spent several days in the hospital and now he’s carrying the lion’s share of the rushing load.”
One of the worst symptoms of renal failure for an athlete is the swelling and decrease in sensation of the extremities it can cause. Renal failure may also decrease one’s ability to conserve electrolytes, something essential to athletic stamina. Murray worked hard to get back into playing shape, gaining back his speed and strength more and more each week. Just when things were starting to look up for him as he was emerging as the bright spot for the 1-6 football team, he lost his brother.
“Obviously he was in a very deep sense of grieving (during the game) Saturday,” Hager said. “He hasn’t talked a lot about it, but when he does it still chokes him up sometimes. As I told the team Sunday, Maurice is going through the toughest thing and that is burying his brother. And football is important to him, so he came back very well. He’s tough.”
His teammates saw the effects as well.
“He’s been battling issues all year, but he’s been fighting through it,” said Bismark Osei, a senior cornerback. “He was devastated when it happened, but after he [got on the field] he’s been back to the Maurice Murray that we know.”
Murray wound up being one of the more effective offensive players on either sideline (with the exception of UNH quarterback Ricky Santos, who threw for five touchdowns on 25-26 passing) as he posted 136 rushing yards on 29 carries.
“We really have three types of tailbacks,” Hager said. “We have Anthony Riley who makes people over-pursue, we have Alex Broomfield who is more of a receiving type and Maurice will just stick it up and pound in there and get you the extra yardage. That doesn’t mean the others can’t do it, but it’s his forte; he’s exceptionally physical.
“You need to give some credit to (linemen) Ryan Gibbons, Mike Rose and Keith Ford. Obviously, it’s not easy to run unless the guys up front are making holes for him. You’ve got to hand it to the offensive line.”
Osei agreed Murray was still an integral part in keeping the team in games.
“Right now, on the offensive side of the game, he keeps the defense off the field by running the ball,” Osei said. “He’s the future of this team right now, he’s very consistent on the ground and he runs hard – he’s a really good back.”
Hager describes Murray as a private person who comes from a close family.
“He’s always got an upbeat attitude, but he’s a quiet man; he’s not a vocal leader,” Hager said. “When he says something it’s because he’s thought it through and he knows it’s exactly what he wants to be said.”
With all he’s experienced this year and the level he’s played at in just his second season, Murray could well be on the road to captaining the team in a future year.
“He’s a great teammate, he’s everything you want a teammate to be,” Osei said. “He’s a standup guy and he’s a great person.”
– Tim Coughlin can be reached at [email protected].
