Tyler Murphy is finally getting a chance to emerge from the shadows and show that he is a pretty good football player. If he continues to play like he did this past week, it won’t take long for the rest of the country to take notice.
Murphy, the fifth year transfer from the University of Florida, has been very patient for his opportunity to play the quarterback position. He joined the Gators in 2010 but wouldn’t even attempt a pass until just last season. He finally got an opportunity last year, when he was unexpectedly and suddenly thrust into the spotlight when starter Jeff Driskel went down for the Gators.
Murphy would lead the Gators to victory in that game and go on to start six more for the Gators. He was forced into some pretty tough spots, including on the road against LSU and the eventual east division champion Missouri, along with the neutral site game against rival Georgia. Murphy played admirably, but the Gators went 2-4 in his starts, though he did show that being suddenly thrust into SEC action after not playing for three years was a lot to handle. A shoulder injury against Vanderbilt would end his season early.
The experience he gained in those seven games was invaluable for Murphy. It was clear that the Gators would be getting their starter back in Driskel, and that if Murphy wanted to play he had to go elsewhere. That’s when former Gator offensive coordinator Steve Addazio came calling and offered an opportunity to play with Boston College.
Murphy saw an opportunity to finally be given the reigns as starter during his final year of eligibility. He finally had a team fully behind him to be their guy and he was going to get the chance he had been waiting so patiently for. Although it was a lot to handle at the time, those SEC games may prove to be the best thing to ever happen to him, as he is now battle tested in some of the most hostile environments and has played against the very best athletes college football has to offer.
Murphy called upon his experiences this past Saturday when he took the field for the first time as the signal caller for the Boston College Eagles. He showed tremendous confidence, poise, leadership, speed, and overall skill as he led his offense with both his arm and legs.
The UMass defense was outmatched athletically and couldn’t keep up with Murphy’s speed. They were dropping back eight men to try and take away the deep ball and he would kill them on the edge with his legs.
Murphy ran for 118 yards and a touchdown against the Minutemen’s defense. He showed that he should be able to take some pressure off of a backfield trying to replace 2,000-yard rusher Andre Williams. Eventually UMass had to bring more men up in the box and he torched them through the air, completing 17 of 24 for 173 yards and another touchdown.
The Eagles put up 511 total yards and looked impressive in a 30-7 rout of the University of Massachusetts. Murphy gives Boston College a dual threat, playmaking quarterback that the school has rarely seen before. He is the type of guy who should keep them in most of their ACC conference games. The sky is the limit for Murphy and this offense.
His college career probably hasn’t gone the way Murphy envisioned when he was a wide eyed freshmen in Gainesville. However, he has a chance to write a story tale ending.
Murphy’s story is already one of patience, perseverance, and, hopefully, triumph. Success on this level is relative. If he can lead Boston College to a winning season and a bowl appearance, while electrifying the fans with a few plays that drop their jaw per game, he will ultimately go down as a success story.
It’s taken some time and Murphy has had to be patient, but all of that patience could pay off, and who knows, it could end up being a magical season in Boston.
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Main Photo: JOHN QUACKENBOS/ BostonHerald.com
