Sure, Ervin Holloman is crucial to the success of Kansas University’s football defense this fall.
Yes, Kansas is counting on other junior college newcomers, like De’Nard Whitfield, Demond Benford and John Culp, to restock a depleted defensive line.
But the real linchpin in the Jayhawks’ plans to switch up their defensive front could be versatile Chaz Murphy.
“Chaz figures very importantly in our plans,” KU coach Terry Allen said Tuesday, the first day of full-contact, full-pad drills. “He can be an inside linebacker, an outside linebacker, a defensive end. He could be a 3-technique if we asked him. The flexibility of our defense revolves around what Chaz can do.”
Murphy, a 6-foot-4, 252-pound senior from Galveston, Texas, by way of Garden City Community College, agreed with his coach’s description of him as a Swiss Army Knife kind of defender.
But he hesitated at the suggestion he could play the 3-technique — usually a near-300-pound grunt on the interior of the defensive line.
“I feel I can play anywhere on the field,” Murphy said. “I like to be versatile. I like to be inside, outside, the other side. I don’t want to be one spot where they can say, ‘He’s over there.’ I like to be where they don’t expect me.
“But I don’t know about a 3-technique. If they asked me to do that, I wouldn’t back down. But anywhere else is fine with me — defensive end, outside linebacker. I haven’t tried middle linebacker yet, but I requested a couple of stunts there.”
Murphy’s versatility will keep him on the field whatever the scheme.
An outside linebacker in KU’s 3-4 defense last season, he’ll play primarily defensive end in Kansas’ new 4-3 scheme. Except when he’s an outside ‘backer. Or inside.
“Chaz did an awful lot of things for us last year,” Allen said. “This year, I think he’s in position to have an outstanding senior campaign.”
His junior year wasn’t too shabby. Murphy played in all 12 games last season — with six starts — and collected 45 total tackles, three sacks, eight tackles for losses, a forced fumble and a pass broken up.
He has the strength — like a 390-pound bench press last spring — and explosiveness — with a 4.58-second 40-yard dash and a position-best 33-inch vertical leap — to excel as both a pass-rusher and run-stopper.
“If I’m rushing the passer, I put my heart and soul into that,” Murphy said. “But I can stop the run. If I’m at linebacker, I have to cover the pass.”
Murphy admits to struggling at times last season as he made the jump from juco to NCAA Div. I-A football.
“I feel so much better this year,” he said. “I’m a lot more comfortable. Last year, I had trouble getting plays down. I was kind of confused. It was probably the Texas A&M game when I got player of the week that I felt a lot more comfortable with the defense. That’s why I know what these (new) guys are going through. We’re keeping it simple for them. Some of these guys went to my juco, so they listen to me. They know I know what I’m talking about.”
*
Bad in Pads: Allen wasn’t thrilled with the Jayhawks’ first day in pads. It included a short scrimmage during Tuesday’s afternoon session.
“It was OK at best,” Allen said. “In the morning, we did some assignments pretty well. The enthusiasm and crispness in the hitting wasn’t what I had hoped it would be this morning. Because of that, we came out and did a little more in the afternoon than I had planned.”
A handful of Jayhawks — including running back David Winbush (hamstring pull) and Holloman (stomach virus) — were held out.
“We’ve got a lot of guys (ailing),” Allen said. “With heat or pulls, typical this-time-of-year stuff.”
Allen said none of ailments was significant to keep any of the players out of Saturday’s major scrimmage.
*
Ross Shines: Asked to single out the player who stood out the most so far in two-a-days, Allen barely hesitated in naming Garden City CC transfer wide receiver Roger Ross.
“Roger’s pretty good,” Allen said. “He came in with a good pedigree. He made a catch this morning where he was six feet off the ground, parallel ” He’s not (Byron) Gasaway fast, but he’s not slow, a 4.55 (-second 40-yard dash). He’s a natural receiver, natural hands, great body control.”
Anybody else?
“Above expectations?” Allen asked. “No. A lot of guys fulfilled expectations up front on defense. But the one guy (who stands out) is Roger.”
