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Murray commits to Miami

By SCOTT PURKS

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 15, 2000

SEFFNER -- Armwood wide receiver Chris Murray welcomed help from his coaches in picking a college. He said he wanted advice from someone who had been "through it a bunch of times and knew what kinds of programs I was looking at.

"I mean I've never been through this before," Murray said. "I felt I had to put some trust in my coaches."

After months of shopping around, Murray and Armwood's coaches decided on Miami, and on Sunday the 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver orally committed to the Hurricanes.

"I like the direction the Miami program is heading," Murray said. "(Miami coach Butch Davis) has things in control down there. I'm excited."

Murray said he also felt a sense of relief commiting early because now he won't have recruiting distractions through this football season. He also won't have to worry about Murray's closest pursuers -- Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech -- troubling him for his services.

"I think Miami is going to be very happy with Chris Murray," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said. "He does everything well on the football field. He blocks, he catches the ball in traffic, he has big, strong hands and he's fast (4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash)."

Last season Murray caught 36 passes for 492 yards and eight touchdowns. He also scored 1,030 on the SAT and has a 2.3 grade-point average.

Murray is the first to commit from a team that has seven potential Division I signees.

"Now Chris can focus on this season and his grades," Callahan said. "This is a very good move for him."

Murray said, "I just hope I can get down there and play right away. I hope I can impress them enough so I won't have to be redshirted. But we'll just have to see how that goes."

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