Murray thrills team’s RBs
NFL veteran tweets photo with group after workouts on campus
Former UCF running back Latavius Murray dropped by campus this summer to work out with several of the Knights’ current tailbacks, including Adrian Killins Jr., Greg McCrae, Otis Anderson and Bentavious Thompson.
Murray celebrated their time together with a shirtless group photo posted on Twitter, showing off the strong core and six-pack abs the Knights developed during offseason workouts.
“Pound for pound best RB unit in the country Keep putting in that work,” Murray tweeted, adding the hash tags #BuiltByUCF and #ChargeOn.
Killins and Murray are separated by 594 yards on the school’s career rushing list, but the players all still look up to Murray.
“It’s awesome having guys like him who actually played here and were successful and now he’s even more successful in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints,” Killins said of the visit. “Him being able to come back here and work out with us just speaks volumes about the type of guy and a person that he is.”
Killins said it was impressive to see the 29-year-old Murray keep up with the younger players.
“He’s getting old for his age and for him to come back in the scorching heat and to run with us and even lift with us, to show us that he still got it,” Killins said with a smile.
Murray, who was a sixth-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft, signed a four-year $14.4 million deal with the Saints in March.
“It’s a boost of encouragement just knowing he came from the same school but they didn’t have as much as we do now,” Anderson said. “Him coming back and working out with us just shows that we can learn something from him and he’s still learning from us. It builds relationships that would never go away.”
Murray rushed for 2,424 yards during his four seasons at UCF from 2008-12, but since his departure the football program has been through its own transformation, including a new state-ofthe-art weight room and nutrition center.
“It’s been a long time coming since he was here with coach (George) O’Leary, so I’m pretty sure everything about here looks different than when he was a student-athlete,” added Killins, who said it was an honor to pick Murray’s brain about football.
Barrow adjusting to new home
Malik Barrow took part in his first practice with the Knights Friday after joining the team as a graduate transfer from Ohio State. The transition has so far been a smooth one for the former four-star defensive end.
“These guys have helped me adjust pretty well in the dorms, on the field and in meetings,” Barrow said. “(Defensive line) coach (Shane) Burnham has been working with me extra. It’s been a great experience so far.”
Barrow is the second player to join the Knights’ defensive line as a graduate transfer this season. Brandon Wilson, a defensive tackle who graduated from Indiana, also announced his transfer and has participated in the team’s preseason camp.
Barrow, a Tampa native who has recovered from multiple ACL injuries, said the proximity to family was one of the main reasons he decided to transfer to UCF.
Barrow is looking forward to the opportunity to earn a full scholarship with the Knights after joining the team as a walk-on, but he still has some unfinished business.
“I just graduated this week, so I’m going back to Ohio State to walk across the stage (and get my diploma),” Barrow said of his plans to participate in this weekend’s Ohio State summer commencement ceremony.
Another watch list for McCrae
McCrae was among 34 players, including six running backs, named to the preseason watch list for the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy. It’s the second time McCrae has been named to an award watch list, with the tailback earning a spot on the Doak Walker Award watch list earlier the month. The Doak Walker Award is presented to the nation’s top running back. It’s the 15th time this preseason a UCF player or coach has been named to a preseason award watch list.