Before he was the starting quarterback at Duke, Maalik Murphy was a backup at Texas. But even before that, he was a highly-touted recruit from California.
Where did Murphy play high school football, and just how good was he?
Maalik Murphy Was a Monster in High School
Murphy grew up in Inglewood, Calif., and attended Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif. He was a bit of a late bloomer, not starting until his junior year, which was impacted by the pandemic. As a result, the season was shortened and played in the spring.
Despite the strenuous circumstances, Murphy threw for 1,261 yards and nine touchdowns against four interceptions. It wasn’t the greatest campaign, but the California native flashed arm talent that attracted attention entering his senior year.
In his final season playing under the Friday night lights, Murphy completed 63% of his passes for 2,954 yards, 22 TDs, and 10 INTs, adding another six scores on the ground. However, his best statistic was 1-0: Junipero Serra High School’s record in the 2021 CIF Division 1-A state championship.
Murphy earned 2021 all-state recognition for his efforts and competed at the 2021 Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles alongside the likes of Quinn Ewers, Cade Klubnik, Conner Weigman, and Drew Allar.
Over the course of his senior season, Murphy received offers from nearly every elite college football program, including Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. Yet, one school stood above the rest for the California native: Texas.
“Texas was the only school on my list that I couldn’t find a single negative about,” Murphy said during his commitment announcement. “Football is the biggest thing going in Texas. It’s more than just a sport; it’s a staple of life, and everyone is so passionate about it there.”
Unfortunately, Murphy landed in Austin at the same time as Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers, a former five-star recruit entering his redshirt freshman season.
OK, sitting behind a star QB for a couple of years before he leaves for the NFL isn’t so bad.
Well, it wouldn’t have been, but then the Longhorns signed the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class: Arch Manning.
After two years of minimal playing time — seven appearances (two starts) with 477 passing yards, three TDs, and three INTs — and no clear path forward, Murphy decided it was time for a fresh start elsewhere.
On Dec. 13, 2023, Murphy entered the transfer portal, and just nine days later, he announced his commitment to the Duke Blue Devils.
“It’s nothing against Texas at all,” Murphy said. “I’m doing this purely for me and my future. In my eyes, I’ll always be a Longhorn and a part of this great team.”
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Duke underwent major reconstruction this offseason, with head coach Mike Elko leaving for Texas A&M after leading the Blue Devils to their most successful back-to-back campaigns since 2014-2015.
New HC Manny Diaz tabbed Murphy as his QB to keep the success train rolling. Although he’s rather inexperienced, the redshirt sophomore has all the tools to be a top QB in the ACC. His massive 6’5″ and 240-pound frame comes equipped with a Howitzer of an arm and enough mobility to extend plays when needed.
Murphy has the opportunity to make fans forget about Riley Leonard — who transferred to Notre Dame following an injury-riddled 2023 campaign — and cement his own legacy at Duke, leading a program hungry for continued success in the ACC.
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