Mustang senior will play football at Southwestern
As a Mustang football player and Forrest City student, Willie Murphy was easy to spot on the sidelines or in a group.
Murphy's smile, which always appears to be seamless, leaves no doubt as to his presence, either as a student or as a Mustang.
A senior this year, Murphy knew he wanted to play college football. He didn't have to wait very long to get that opportunity, because opportunity actually found him.
Recently, Murphy made the most of that opportunity, signing a letter of intent to play his college football at Southwestern College, a small NAIA school located in rural Winfield, Kansas, backed by an athletic program known as the Moundbuilders or sometimes just the Builders.
The Southwestern coaches scouted Murphy during the 2022 prep football season. Then, for Murphy, the unexpected happened when the coaches met with and talked to Forrest City head coach Ronald Lewis and his coaching staff.
"They talked to Coach Lewis first," Murphy said. "They wanted to know what kind of student and player I was and then they came and talked to me and asked if I would be willing to come for a visit. I did and the visit was great. They offered me the scholarship right there on the spot."
Murphy, a three-year Forrest City Mustang, will finish out his senior year this spring, running track for Coach Donnie Willis and playing baseball for Coach Kevin Mosley, before graduating in May.
As a Mustang football player, Murphy has lined up at both running back and linebacker. The Southwestern coaches, according to Murphy, are leaving the decision about which position he would prefer to play once he settles into the Kansas school, entirely up to him.
"The Southwestern coaches like that I can play both positions, but they are going to let me make that decision," Murphy said.
Murphy, along with Terrell Strong were both named to 5AEast All-Conference Honorable Mention team to cap the 2022 football season.
Murphy led the Mustangs in rushing yards with more than 400 yards on the ground and was productive from the linebacker position as well. Rarely, did Murphy come out of the game.
While Murphy has not worked out with the Southwestern team, he has met most of the coaching staff.
"I thought all of the vibes were good," Murphy said. "All of the coaching staff were doing the same things and they all appeared to be on the same coaching page. And it felt like it is going to be a very easy transition for me. Coach Lewis said it was the exact same feeling for him as well. Really, I already felt at home on the campus and the city is located in a very rural area which feels good to me. And there's really nothing to do which could get you in trouble."
Not a problem for Murphy. "I'm a good kid," he joked.
Besides his role with the Mustang football team, Murphy has served as the high school Beta Club president and his GPA rests at 3.47.
As Forrest City graduation draws closer, Murphy is hoping to be listed among the school's top 10 percent of the graduating students.
"I only had trouble in one class, that was algebra, and I got a C, so I'm hoping that doesn't knock me down," Murphy added. "I've never really been a math person, but I'm working at it harder."
Murphy will be playing Southwestern football for head coach Brad Griffin, who will be his fourth head coach over the past four seasons.
As a Mustang sophomore in 2020, Murphy played for Rich Trail, during his junior year 2021, he played for Teli White and this just completed football season, Murphy played for Lewis.
Before high school, Murphy played seventh grade football for then coaches Mark Main and Allen Perry and then two years of junior high football under head coach Chris Siler.
"It was never a struggle for me to play for that many head coaches, it was just a matter of me adapting to each new coach," Murphy added. "The only thing about having multiple coaches is that every year I had to repeatedly prove myself to the new coach. Coach Lewis and his staff really pushed us and made this past football season fun even though our record did show it. And they made sure that the players who deserved the looks from the college recruiters were able to get those opportunities."
Murphy only played in four winning games over the past three seasons.
Murphy's father, Willie Jr. played football Memphis high school football, which has apparently rubbed off on his son.
"He helped me keep my head on straight," Murphy said of his father. "That's why I'm who I am now, not getting into any outside extra stuff. For me, it's books, football, work, home, sleep. My dad was the strict parent, mom was lenient, but she kept me in line and was not going to let me fall. Always being the mother who cares. They are both very supportive of me when it comes to me chasing my dreams especially on the football field."
Following graduation and preceding his first year at Southwestern College, Murphy says he plans to work this summer to get stronger.
Southwestern, an NAIA school, is a very established college, which Murphy understands.
"I'm gonna work my butt off when I get there, because I want to play because first of all, I want to be that team player," Murphy added.
There is one more opportunity that Murphy wants once he gets to Southwestern. That would be to wear the school's purple and white jerseys, sometimes purple and black.
"Those jerseys are too sweet," Murphy said.
Southwestern College is a private, four-year, higher educational institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, founded in 1885 as Southwest Kansas Conference College. the school graduated its first class in 1889. The name of the school was changed to its current form in 1909.
The Southwestern athletic teams are called the Moundbuilders. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).
Southwestern College finished 7-1 overall in the just completed football season and its roster includes seven, Arkansas athletes.