Texas Football: Maalik Murphy’s Longhorns commitment is ‘unwavering’

A hot storyline coming out of spring ball for the Texas football program was the standout play during the Orange-White Game of redshirt freshman quarterback Maalik Murphy. The former blue-chip recruit and California native signal caller Murphy showed some flashes of brilliance during the spring game, including a beautiful 79-yard deep ball connection that went for a touchdown to true freshman wide receiver Johntay Cook II.

And from what we’ve heard regarding the NCAA Transfer Portal and NIL rumor mill in the last couple of weeks, Murphy’s performance in the spring game made such a big impression that he wound up receiving some offers to take his talents elsewhere in the spring window.

Murphy obviously didn’t act on any of those NIL offers to leave Texas this spring, though. In fact, it sounds like Murphy took quite the opposite route to approaching his progression during his collegiate career after a big run to close out spring ball for the Longhorns.

On the morning of May 4, Horns247 reported (paid content) that Murphy’s commitment to Texas is “unwavering” following the conclusion of spring ball. This quote in the Horns247 report came from Murphy’s personal quarterback coach since he was in elementary school, Danny Hernandez.

Texas football QB Maalik Murphy has an “unwavering” commitment to the Longhorns

Maalik reportedly told Hernandez that “he’s hanging tight” in regard to his status at Texas after the breakout spring game showing last month.

Another quote that really stuck out to me in this report from Horns247 was Murphy saying that he wants to “really see this through and do everything that I possibly can to compete”.

You have to love the attitude and commitment to Texas that Murphy is showing, especially given the competition he’s facing in the QB room on the Forty Acres this offseason. Murphy isn’t shying away from the competition in the quarterback room in the slightest.

He’s taking this challenge head-on and trying to become the best version of himself at the quarterback position as possible ahead of the 2023 season.

Given the mindset that Murphy is in from what we’re hearing about in this report, I would naturally assume that he is going to be putting his best foot forward amid the competition in the quarterback room heading into the fall. Murphy does have a backup QB battle on his hands heading into fall camp with true freshman quarterback Arch Manning.

And given the combination of Murphy’s experience getting to learn in this system and develop under head coach Steve Sarkisian and QB coach AJ Milwee last year along with his strong finish to spring camp, I would personally give him the leg up in the competition heading into the fall over Arch.

But there is still a long way to go before any of that is decided for the upcoming season, and I expect both these quarterbacks to continue to improve heading into the fall given what I know about their demeanor and work ethic.