2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Kevin Murphy, DT, Louisiana Tech University
- Name: Kevin Murphy
- Height: 6’2
- Weight: 305
- Position: Nose/DT
- College: LA Tech
- Twitter: @kMuRpHy54
Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?
• I am from West Chester, Pennsylvania. It was a great place to grow up. It’s hard to choose just one thing that I love most about West Chester. But what stands out to me most would be the people. So many amazing people have helped me along my journey to be where I am today. From teammates, to coaches, to friends and family, I am truly grateful to everyone who supported me along the way.
List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?
• You may not like this answer but they all play an equally critical role in being successful on gameday. I am a firm believer that success on the field comes by the preparation you do off of it. In order to even be able to compete, you must put in the work in the weight room be strong and in shape. Then, understanding your opponent through film study allows you to slow the game down and gives you an advantage. Finally, practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Going out everyday and perfecting your craft through practice is how you produce on the field. You don’t rise to the occasion. You fall back on your training.
What do you worry about, and why?
• I worry that I may get overlooked because other players have higher stats than I do. But when you put the tape in to watch me play, you will see a guy doing his job 100 miles per hour and impacting plays in ways that don’t always show up on the stat sheet.
Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?
• Last Winter, I set goal weights that I wanted to hit when I went to max out at the end of Winter workouts. When max day came, I did not hit the bench max that I had set. I was frustrated with myself but knew it was just going to take more work. So, I trained all spring and when it came time for summer maxes I not only PRed but beat the number by 10lbs.
What do your teammates say is your best quality?
• They would say consistency is my best quality. They know what they are going to get out of me day in and day out. I am going to prepare diligently through film study. I am going to work everyday in practice to better my craft. I am going to do my job on the field and play with great effort and physicality. This way, on game day, my brothers are confident that I will do my job. That allows them to play faster themselves and not only makes our defense better, but our team better.
Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
• This is a tough question because I have competed against some great players over the years. One that comes to mind is Greg Ward Jr. He went to Houston where he played QB. He was an electric player who could throw and make plays with his legs. He currently plays WR for the Eagles.
What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?
• I have been so blessed to have the opportunity to play Division 1 football at the highest level. Who knows what the future holds for me at the next level. I am just thankful and would love to give back somehow and use the gifts God gave me to help inspire others. I would love to get into coaching at some level and continue to use my knowledge of the game.
Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?
• I would clean my room first. Your room is the first thing you see every day when you wake up. If it is cluttered and disorganized, you can bet that your day will probably follow that narrative.
If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?
• I would be Don Corlenone from the Godfather. First, because the Godfather movies are my favorite. Secondly, I love that time period. The cars, the way people dressed, all of that is cool to me. Finally, because he was a respected leader and took care of his own.
Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?
• The biggest adversity I went through would be when I broke my foot over the summer here at LA Tech while training. I had just Grad Transferred and wanted nothing more than to come down here and get right to work with my new teammates and prove myself. After 3 weeks of training, we were doing an agility drill and as I changed direction, a bone in my foot broke. I was crushed when I found out that I needed surgery.To make things worse, the break I had has a high rate of not mending which means I could have ended up missing my whole senior season. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I got the best treatment and medical advice that I could and attacked my rehab every day. I set a goal for myself to get back out there and do whatever I could to help my team win. After working diligently for three months, I found out my fracture was healed enough for me to be cleared to come back to football. When I came back, the team needed me at DT instead of Nose where I played my last 3 years. I took on the new position with open arms because all I wanted to do was help the team win. Now, after the season, im proud to say that I was part of not only a damn good defense but a damn good team.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
• I’m a very outgoing guy. I don’t get embarrassed easily.
What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?
• My most memorable play would have to be my interception against UMass. As a DT, those opportunities come maybe once in a lifetime. It is something that I will look back upon fondly when my playing career is over.
What song best describes your work ethic?
• Hustle Hard by Ace Hood because I love the grind and attack my work everyday.
What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level?
• I would say my football IQ is my most important trait. I know the game well and spend a lot of time watching opponent film. I have a good eye for finding tendencies. For example, an OL stance when he is pulling or and RBs depth when he is running the ball versus to pass blocking. Things like that help me slow the game down and narrow the possible plays an offense could be running.
If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?
• I would bring back Reggie White so he could teach me the secret of how to do his hump move!
If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it?
• Karma Night Club
Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?
• I guy I like to watch who does not get a lot of recognition is Beau Allen. He is currently a DT for the Buccaneers. He was one of my favorite players when he played for the Eagles. He is not a flashy guy physically, but he plays hard. He is physical at the point of attack and he does his job. He makes those around him and the defense as a whole better. He is a guy I feel as though Im try emulate.
Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?
• I would much rather be respected than liked. As a college football player, it is easy to fall into the trap of trying to be liked by everyone. But that is not always what makes the team better. Sometimes, as a leader, you have to say hard things for the good of the team. People might not like it, but they’ll respect it if it is coming from a place of love and respect.
What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?
• I cannot think of one that comes to mind right now. I just know that playing football at the next level is an unbelievable opportunity and it should be treated as such. I understand that hard situations in life come up. That happens to everyone and is out of our control. With that being said though, there is no room for self inflicted off the field issues if you want to play at the highest level.
Do you love to win, or hate to lose?
• I definitely love to win but I hate losing way more. My hate for losing is what drives me everyday. It is easy to forget how losing feels when things are going good and your team is winning. That is not the case for me. I remind myself every day that sick feeling I felt in my stomach after losing. It the reason I play with a chip on my shoulder.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?
•My family has always been my biggest influence. I would not be here without them. They made me into the man I am today. My mom was an ER nurse for 20 years and taught me sacrifice. My brother is in school to become a Physician’s Assistant. I have never met anyone in my life who works harder than him on his craft. I strive everyday to be like him. Then my father who is my hero. He played baseball at Arkansas and then went on to play professionally in the Astros and Angels organizations. He has taught me ever since I was a little boy and dreamed of playing college football what I needed to do to get here. He loved and supported me the whole way. I am so grateful for them and being on this journey with me.
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