Trent Murphy, Senior, Linebacker, Stanford
Overview:
The Stanford Cardinal have perhaps the best group of linebackers in the country. Although Shayne Skov gets many of the headlines for his wild play and even wilder appearance, the best of the group is senior Trent Murphy. Last year, Murphy led the team with 10 sacks. This year, not only is he Stanford's best pass rusher but, as late as the week before Thanksgiving, Trent Murphy had accumulated the most sacks in the country. His instincts and nose for the ball make him the cornerstone of the Cardinal defense that dominated Oregon in one of the most impressive upset victories of the entire season.
Final Projection:
Very strong both in the body and with his hands, Trent Murphy is an NFL-caliber edge rusher. He doesn't have high end speed or elite coverage skills by any means but, with rushers becoming more specialized and defensive line rotations expanding, this is not as big of a deal as it used to be. With the superior athletes at his position going near the top of round one, Murphy is a fringe first round prospect who has played his way into that territory with his fine senior season.
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