By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
For those like Derrick Brown of Auburn, things probably won't change that much. He made his presence known in the Southeastern Conference and the NFL Combine. He's almost certain to be the first inside defensive lineman chosen in this month's draft.
For those like
Bill Murray of William & Mary, the timing couldn't have been much worse. He wasn't one of the 12 Championship Subdivision players invited to the combine, so he needed to impress NFL scouts at the Tribe's pro day.
Instead, because of COVID-19, the NFL prohibited representatives from attending pro days or holding in-person meetings with players. So with the draft less than three weeks away, Murray can only hope his film, reputation, and personality will be enough to get a call.
"It's obviously really weird and unfortunate," Murray said from his home in Millington, N.J. "It's kind of tough that you put all this effort in and you're not able to test the way you were supposed to. Basically, all the plans went out the window, which was kind of a bummer."
The NFL's announcement came three days before W&M's pro day, which had been scheduled for March 16. Instead, on that same day, Murray drove to Martinsville, N.J., for an impromptu pro day at TEST Football Academy. No scouts were present, but TEST live-streamed the day's activities on Facebook.
Players went through various drills, including the 40-yard dash and 225-pound bench presses. Murray was singled out in an si.com story for doing 30 reps on the press. Only four of the 46 inside defensive linemen at the NFL Combine did more.
Of TEST's six attendees who were listed as either defensive tackles or defensive linemen, Murray had the best 40 laser time at 4.93 seconds. Murray also had the best vertical jump (32½ inches) and second-best broad jump (9-4).
TEST's pro day barely made it. Hours after it wrapped up, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that all gyms in the state would be closed indefinitely.
"If it would have been on Tuesday, we wouldn't have been able to do it," Murray said. "I was very blessed. Honestly not the best circumstances, but we got it done. I'm very, very fortunate for that."
Murray was a three-year starter at William & Mary, where he finished 143 tackles and 19 sacks (fifth on the Tribe's all-time list). On special teams, he blocked 10 kicks, four coming in his senior year.
At the College Gridiron Showcase in January, Murray met with "twenty-plus" teams. Lately, he said he's had discussions with New England, Tennessee, San Francisco, Miami, the New York Giants, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Technology is a big help. Murray has held video meetings with teams in which they were able to go over his game tape.
"They would put it on the screen and ask, 'What's your responsibility here? What could you have done better?'" Murray said. "I assume that stuff would take place during a workout or a visit or on the pro day. Obviously, since all that has been for the time being canceled, it's got to find ways to get it done."
Though FCS players are generally considered longshots in the draft, Murray comes from a program that had three alums in the NFL last season — DeAndre Houston-Carson (Chicago Bears), Luke Rhodes (Indianapolis Colts), and B.W. Webb (Cincinnati Bengals).
W&M also has two former players, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills, as head coaches in the league.
"That shows that players from William & Mary can make it," Murray said. "And that we have two coaches in the NFL shows that people who come out of William & Mary are smart and they're leaders."
Though public gyms in New Jersey are closed, Murray is fortunate to have a workout room at home. Though in his basement, it's pretty sophisticated with free weights, a rack, a multi-use machine, dumbbells, a treadmill, a rowing machine, and an elliptical.
"I'm trying to maintain the shape I'm in," he said.
Having spent five years in the program and graduated last spring economics, Murray can rely on his William & Mary experience in the weeks leading up to the draft.
"William & Mary has helped me as a well-rounded individual," he said. "Obviously, it's a tough school and the academics are challenging. Teams want smart football players, so I think that will help.
"I know a lot of big schools, you may just get overwhelmed with just football, football, football. But at William & Mary, there's a balance of football, school, and social life. That itself helps."
