Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Profile, Edge Rusher
Class: Junior
College: UCLA Bruins
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 249 pounds
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UCLA Draft Profile: Laiatu Latu NFL Draft Profile, Edge Rusher
Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Profile: Bio
Gabriel Murphy, a 3-star recruit from Bishop Lynch High School, began his collegiate journey at North Texas, where he gradually made his mark on the field. In his sophomore year, he showcased promise as a pass rusher, accumulating 12 tackles and 4 sacks in 7 games for the Mean Green. Murphy’s junior season saw significant improvement, contributing 30 tackles and an impressive 8 sacks, along with notable proficiency in generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
After transferring to UCLA for his senior year, Murphy excelled, tallying 24 tackles and 2 sacks in 12 games for the Bruins, demonstrating his continued growth and impact on the defensive front. In his final collegiate season, Murphy maintained his high level of performance, recording 22 tackles and 6 sacks, showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing offenses with his pass-rushing prowess consistently.
Gabriel’s twin brother, Grayson, is an edge rusher for UCLA
Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Profile: Upside
Murphy possesses a wide base and low center of gravity, providing stability to hold his ground and the strength to effectively shed blockers. Known for his exceptional power and initial quickness, Murphy’s standout attribute lies in his aggression with his hands, which he deploys adeptly to win battles around the edge.
He demonstrates impressive quickness off the line of scrimmage, coupled with the flexibility to consistently maneuver around blockers and apply pressure on quarterbacks. Additionally, Murphy showcases anticipation skills, enabling him to anticipate the snap and maintain pursuit throughout plays, showcasing his country-strong physique and penchant for physicality as he seeks out contact on the field.
Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Profile: Downside
Improvement is needed in several areas of Murphy’s game, particularly in his use of hands. He tends to drop them and struggles to engage with offensive tackles effectively. This limitation hampers his pass-rush repertoire, emphasizing the need for refinement in this aspect.
Additionally, he must enhance his finishing technique, incorporating a more forceful rip move to secure clean victories in pass-rushing situations.
Murphy’s deficiencies as a run defender are evident, lacking the necessary physicality and strength to hold his ground against one-on-one blocks from formidable opponents. His weaknesses can leave him vulnerable to being reached by blockers, underscoring the importance of addressing these areas for overall improvement in his game.
