Before dominating the college game at Oklahoma and being selected with the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray was a high school football superstar. He was the starting quarterback for the Allen High School football team in Texas, and he did nothing but thrive there.
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Murray's stats were insane. In his three-year high school career, he threw for 10,386 passing yards and had 186 total touchdowns (passing and rushing) against 22 interceptions.
His senior year put him on the map nationally. Murray was named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for his offensive heroics. Leading this team was easy for head coach Tom Westerberg; while Murray was the starting quarterback, the Eagles went undefeated and won three-straight state championships.
These numbers are impressive enough to put him in the conversation for one of the greatest high school football players of all time. Murray sat the second half out often due to the high scores his team would put up, making it all the more impressive that he could deliver these stats without playing every snap.
Kyler Murray's High School Football Highlights
Being a part of Texas football lore means that there are plenty of Murray's highlights to dissect. He was a cheat code against his high school peers. He looked like one of the most polished passers in the country and was unstoppable.
RELATED: Long Before His Heisman, Kyler Murray Ran a Blazing Fast 40-Yard Dash
What he lacked in height he was able to make up for in elusiveness, accuracy, and pocket presence. Being on the big stage never bothered him, either. His last two state title matchups were played at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, and his senior season culminated with a five-touchdown performance at Jerry World. He was named the state's playoff MVP.
Kyler Murray in College
Though schools like Florida, Notre Dame, and Ohio State offered him scholarships, Murray chose to stay in the Lone Star State for college football and was recruited by Kevin Sumlin to play for the Texas A&M Aggies.
His father, Kevin Murray, played quarterback for the Aggies as well. Unfortunately, Kyler's tenure in College Station was rocky at best, and after his freshman year, he transferred to Oklahoma to play for the Sooners.
After working as Baker Mayfield's backup, he was able to take the reins in 2018 and performed admirably. He threw for 42 touchdowns, rushed for 12 more, and had 5,362 total yards of offense. Oklahoma went to the CFP semifinals, but they would lose against Alabama. Murray was named the Heisman Trophy Winner, making it the first time a school was the home to two consecutive winners of the award.
Murray was a great baseball player as well. He was drafted in the first round by the MLB's Oakland Athletics in 2018 and was all set to enter spring training with the team after his Heisman-winning season.
In a surprise move, he declared for the NFL Draft instead, continuing his football career.
Kyler Murray in the NFL
.@K1 making the impossible possible. @AZCardinals | #RedSea pic.twitter.com/YpgUJd6UfJ
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2020
Murray was selected with the No. 1 pick by Kliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals. So far, he has been quite impressive in the NFL, and he has a bright future ahead of him.
A competitive rivalry is beginning to form between Murray and fellow "undersized" QB Russell Wilson. It is a shame that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the in-person fan experience because Murray is someone that has to be seen live at the stadium
Kyler Murray has been hyped up from the second he hit the field at Allen High School. He has succeeded at every level and should continue to do so in the NFL.
Enjoy these high school highlights, as they are a reminder of how explosive the quarterback can be.
