It looked like DeMarco Murray was leaving his alma mater for the same job somewhere else, then all of a sudden, he wasn’t.
At 5:48 p.m. Tuesday, Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Murray was a top candidate to be Penn State’s next running backs coach, which is the same position he has with the Oklahoma Sooners. Then, less than three hours later, George Stoia of SoonerScoop (part of On3) announced that Murray was expected to stay at OU.
According to Stoia, Murray talked to Penn State about the job, but he notified folks within OU’s program Tuesday evening that he was planning to stay put.
This is not the first time Murray’s name has been suggested as a potential for a big-time position, even this offseason. He was also allegedly a candidate for the Dallas Cowboys’ running backs coach role.
That, too, would have been like coaching for his alma mater as Murray played four seasons with the Cowboys in 2011-14.
The Las Vegas Raiders were also allegedly interested in Murray as their running backs coach this year. Last year, Ohio State wanted Murray.
Since Murray has been such a hot commodity, OU handed him quite the bump last year. Murray signed an agreement through 2026 that raised his compensation from $500,000 to $575,000. Then, after Ohio State pursued him, the Sooners awarded Murray another raise that set his compensation at $800,000 in 2024.
Murray didn’t even get into teaching until 2019, when Arizona hired him as running backs coach. He subsequently proceeded to OU in 2020 and has been there ever since under both Lincoln Riley and Brent Venables.
Before teaching, Murray was two-time First-Team All-Big 12 and was on the second team once with the Sooners. He carried for at least 700 yards every season in college and reached 1,000 rushing yards as a sophomore and senior.
Murray was later a third-round NFL Draft pick by the Cowboys before a seven-year NFL career between the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans.
In 2014, his last season in Dallas, Murray led the NFL with 1,845 running yards and 13 TDs. He was selected NFL Offensive Player of the Year and was All-Pro. Murray was a Pro Bowler three times in his career.
After playing, Murray spent a year in broadcasting before getting into coaching.
Many believe an NFL job is the only thing that would drive Murray away from coaching at his alma institution. However, there are some reports that he is still a possibility at Penn State.
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