Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Look who’s coming back as a coach

By Chip Rouse

DALLAS - OCTOBER 02: Running back Demarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown past James Haynes #8 of the Texas Longhorns in the first quarter at the Cotton Bowl on October 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS - OCTOBER 02: Running back Demarco Murray #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown past James Haynes #8 of the Texas Longhorns in the first quarter at the Cotton Bowl on October 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Former Oklahoma football star DeMarco Murray is headed back to Norman to coach the Sooner running backs, according to reports by several media sources, including The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman and 247Sports.

Murray is currently coaching the running backs at Arizona under head coach Kevin Sumlin. He ranks seventh on the Oklahoma career rushing list, having compiled 3,685 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns in four seasons playing for the Sooners (2006-10). Sumlin was the offensive coordinator while Murray was at OU.

Murray’s speed and strength were prime attributes in his success as a running back, but his true versatility was his ability as a receiver coming out of the backfield. He caught 157 passes for an additional 1,571 yards through the air. His 13 additional receiving touchdowns and two kick-return touchdowns gave him a total of 65 TDs for his college career, only the fifth non-quarterback in Big 12 history to record 60 or more career touchdowns.

A two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, Murray was a third-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons in the NFL (four with the Cowboys, one with the Philadelphia Eagles and finished his career in 2017 after two seasons with the Tennessee Titans).

In 2014, his final season as a member of the Cowboys, Murray was the NFL rushing champion, with 1,845 rushing yards, and NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was voted to the Pro Bowl three times and a one-time NFL All-Pro.

Murray will replace Jay Boulware, who resigned to take an assistant’s position with the Texas Longhorns coaching staff. Boulware coached the Sooner running backs along with special teams.

Since 1999, Oklahoma has employed several former players as coaching assistants. Former Sooner quarterback Cale Gundy has been a member of the OU coaching staff since 1999, Bob Stoops’ first season as head coach. Another former OU QB, Josh Heupel, served on Stoops’ coaching staff for nine seasons, the final four of which were as offensive coordinator. Heupel is now the head coach at the University of Central Flordia.

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