Ryan Murphy lit up Friday nights in a way no other had before or since for Free State High. See Ryan pass. See Ryan run. See Ryan pick off a pass and take it to the house. See Ryan pin a vicious hit on a receiver, popping the ball loose.

Now, see Ryan stand on the sidelines. See him watch the same players you’re watching. He’s waiting his turn. It’s the rule, not the exception, for players his age. Where Murphy is now on the Kansas University football depth chart, which would be third string, tells little about where he will be two years, even a year, from now.

As a senior for the Firebirds in 2006, Murphy passed for more than 1,800 yards, rushed for more than 1,000 yards and had a hand in 33 touchdowns. The talent that led to those numbers drew the interest of several Div. I schools, and Murphy decided to stay at home to play.

He red-shirted his first season at KU and worked out at wide receiver and switched to cornerback during spring ball.

Ryan Greene

A former high school star never fully appreciates the magnitude of the transition until he undertakes it.

“Probably working hard,” Murphy said when asked to name the biggest change at the collegiate level. “That was a big adjustment coming from high school, how hard you have to work and really have to put in the time and effort because everybody’s good when you come up here. You can’t just come in with your ego because everybody’s ego is coming up here. You have to come in and prove yourself because nobody is going to lay down and give you anything.”

It doesn’t take long for freshmen to realize they aren’t ready. It takes longer to figure out how to get up to speed.

“It took me awhile to get used to,” he said. “Being from Lawrence, I was kind of used to doing my own thing, never having to work really hard, because I was kind of up there. Now, when I got here it kind of humbled me a little bit, not playing last year, having to sit back and watch. I think now it’s helped me out. I just came in more prepared this year, mentally, coming in working hard in the summer. It started out in summer conditioning then training camp.”

Murphy’s roommate and best friend transferred out of the program, moving to NCAA Div. II Emporia State. That would be twin brother Brian Murphy.

“It’s kind of difficult being apart, but it’s something we both needed to do, get away from each other a little bit, kind of grow, go our separate ways a little bit,” Ryan said. “We still keep in touch. We still talk on the phone every single day.”

Brian Murphy didn’t see much playing time in his future at KU, but his bigger twin envisions a brighter future for himself at Kansas.

“I’ve never, ever doubted coming to KU,” Ryan said. “I always knew if I’d be patient, keep working hard, I’d get an opportunity to play.”

Je’Ney Jackson coaches the cornerbacks for head coach Mark Mangino. For a short time, Jackson had Murphy working with the No. 2 defense.

“He’s picking up things really fast,” Jackson said. “He’s doing a good job. He’s working hard every day. He’s quick. That’s one great thing.”

High school athletes are covered more extensively by both print and electronic media more in Lawrence than in most towns. Nobody received more attention than Murphy during his career. That could make returning to anonymity difficult.

“For him it hasn’t been,” Jackson said. “He has never felt that he deserves whatever because he’s a great player from Lawrence, Kan. He has come in and worked hard from Day 1. I never had to talk to him about work or anything like that. He has a great attitude all the time. He’s not been a bad-attitude kid, ever.”

If Murphy continues to embrace Mangino’s sawing-wood philosophy, keeping his focus trained on doing the things necessary to get better and not looking up to see where he stands, he’ll find his way onto the field eventually, many believe.

“If given the opportunity, he’s going to find a way to play because he’s going to work hard,” Free State coach Bob Lisher said. “He has football savvy, and he’s a natural athlete. … They’ve got a lot of depth at the position, and there are some players in front of him, so he’s going to have to earn it.”