Oklahoma RBs coach DeMarco Murray suspended

Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray has been suspended for one game by the NCAA for recruiting violations, Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports is reporting.

The NCAA cited Murray for impermissibly contacting 17prospects over a 16-month period, including 65 phone calls and 36 text messages. Feldman reported that the violations were discovered by the University of Oklahoma through a routine review of phone records.

Murray, who was a star running back at OU from 2007 to 2010, contends he was not aware his was committing a recruiting violations because he did not know that the rules changes that had been put in effect for the Covid-19 pandemic were no longer in effect.

In addition to the one-game suspension for Murray, the university reportedly will serve a one-year probationary period and is being fined $500.

Murray rushed for 3,685 yards in four seasons at OU and ranks seventh on the Sooner career list. He is the program career leader in touchdowns scored (65) and all-purpose yards (6,718). He was drafted in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys with the 71st overall pick. He played seven seasons in the NFL with three different teams (Dallas, Philadelphia and Tennessee).

In 2014, while with the Cowboys, Murray was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, winning the rushing title that season with 1,845 yards. He set a Dallas franchise record that season with 12 games of at least 100 rushing yards.

Oklahoma opens the 2024 season, its first as a member of the SEC, at home on Friday night against Temple.