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Position: CB
Class: 2010 Big Board
Year: Senior
Hometown: Elizabeth, NJ
Date of Birth: 01.13.87
Height: 6002
Weight: 196
Bench Press: 16
Vertical Jump: 38"
40 T: 4.52
Projection: 3rd Round
Ordering: 85
SCOUT'S TAKE
Skinny: When it comes to laying the lumber, Murphy ranks right up there with any cornerback in the 2010 draft. In addition, the ferocious hitter also possesses exceptional speed, to go along with his prototypical size (6’1, 185). Last season, he compiled 67 total tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass break-ups.
Stock: Some scouts have him rated with a similar grade as former South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins, who was a first round pick of the Dallas Cowboys two years ago. This season the USF Bull has 40 total tackles, two interceptions and six pass break-ups through nine games.
NEWS
12.29.09 - Cornerback Jerome Murphy has been selected for the 2010 Senior Bowl. Murphy picked up second-team All-BIG EAST honors this year. The New Jersey native ranks third on the team with 71 total tackles and second with three interceptions this season. His best effort of the season came against Rutgers in which he totaled 14 tackles. He also has six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery on the year.
10.15.09 – vs. Cincinnati - Jerome Murphy did an excellent job of reading and reacting, jumping an out route. Tony Pike was very lucky Murphy didn’t pick the pass off and go the other way for a touchdown. Murphy again just misses an INT—he’s got to work on those hands. The cornerback does a great in zone coverage of leaving his man to step up and make the play on an underneath receiver, showing an understanding of how to play team defense. He made a great tackle on screen pass; you have to love his aggressiveness near the line of scrimmage. He is physical in coverage, but at times gets too physical, drawing a pass interference penalty. At times he uses his hands too much and he needs to do a better job of using his feet. Murphy is also a little stiff in the hips and will struggle at the next level if asked to cover speedy receivers on an island. He is better off in a zone scheme and playing near the line of scrimmage in order to take advantage of his strengths. He had more than one bad penalty, hitting a defenseless wide receiver for a personal foul and committing a block in the back on punt return to go along with his pass interference penalty in the end zone. Despite the miscues, there’s a lot to like and in the right scheme Murphy can be an effective defender. Final Stats: 8 tackles, 4 pass break ups