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Murray Ready To Step Up Among Nation's Elite QBs

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By KATHERINE SMITH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 21, 2008

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - It took a little more than a year for Aaron Murray to go from the sidelines to elite quarterback status.

Last summer, having never played a down of football as a starting quarterback, Plant High's Murray watched from the sideline of the Elite 11 quarterback camp as players such as Hawaii's Colt Brennan and Kentucky's Andre Woodson dazzled onlookers with their arms.

Relegated to "ballboy" status, if they needed a towel, he got it. Thirsty? Murray was their man.

This summer, Murray's status has changed quite considerably. Now one of the top passers in the country, he'll demonstrate his maturation at this week's Elite 11 quarterback camp on the campus of SOKA University as one of 12 high school quarterbacks, and the first one invited, who will participate in the prestigious event.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, past participants of the camp - which provides instruction from college and former NFL quarterbacks - include Vince Young and Matt Leinart.

"I had a blast last year, but it's going to be nice not to have to get the Gatorade for everyone and get the balls set up and the cones set up," Murray said. "Now I get to play and have fun."

For the most part, Murray has enjoyed his ascension from Robert Marve's backup to record-breaking, sought-after quarterback.

He's done answering the question of how he'll replace Marve. Actually, Murray never had to vocalize an answer. His actions on the football field did the speaking for him.

Last season as a junior, Murray led Plant to its third consecutive district title and second straight Class 4A regional final. He racked up 51 passing touchdowns, breaking Marve's single-season state record. He also led the state with 4,013 passing yards and contributed 932 rushing yards and 13 TDs to one of the state's most prolific offenses.

Last week, Murray led his Plant teammates to a title in the inaugural Nike "7 On" Football Tournament, which featured some of the top teams in the country. In a battle of two of the top passers in the nation, Murray bested USC-commit Matt Barkley from California's Mater Dei High in a semifinal matchup. During one span of the game, Murray completed 20 consecutive passes.

"Just when I think I've seen everything in his arsenal, he surprises me," Plant coach Robert Weiner said.

Soon after last summer's Elite 11 experience, where Murray did win the "Golden Gun" accuracy contest, college coaches came calling, and calling, and calling. With more than 50 Division I scholarship offers to choose from, Murray verbally committed to the University of Georgia in April.

Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.

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