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Murray, Sampson Reunite In Offense

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By KATHERINE SMITH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - Aaron Murray and Allen Sampson were 8 years old when they first began playing football together. Nine years later, the two are together again on the football field and hope to perform as if they've never been apart.

"Throwing the ball in the backyard or in the local park for the Tampa Bay Youth Football League Cardinals, I've always thrown with him," Murray said. "He's always been fast and we hit it off right away. We've been best friends forever. It's hard to separate us. He's like a second brother to me."

Sampson, a junior wideout, transferred from Gaither to Plant, in part to play a more integral part of an offense, but also to rejoin Murray.

"He's one of the best quarterbacks I've ever played with, of course, but he's also a good mentor on the field," Sampson said. "If I drop a ball, he's always the first one to come to me and tell me to rub it off. It doesn't matter how many balls I drop. He always gives me a second chance."

Not that it's hard to give Sampson anything. Plant coach Robert Weiner said you'd be hard pressed to find anyone to say a negative word about Sampson.

"Allen's personality takes people in right away," Weiner said. "He's got a spirit about him. He's just a special kid and he's an outstanding player too."

The same can be said for Murray, who recently earned MVP honors at the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp in California. Heading into his second year as Plant's starting quarterback, Murray will be working without two of his best receivers from last year.

Last season, Derek Winter and Cornelius Gallon led the county in receiving. With Murray setting a state record with 51 touchdowns and leading the state with 4,012 passing yards, somebody's got to be the recipient of all of those throws.

"This offense is a wide receiver's dream," Sampson said. "It's anybody's dream actually, but a wide receiver definitely."

Last season at Gaither in a run-oriented offense, Sampson caught seven passes for 128 yards and two TDs. He's worked hard to get caught up to speed at Plant, speed being the operative word since it's his biggest weapon.

"First of all, as a person, Allen's probably one of the hardest working kids you'll meet," Murray said. "He's such a tremendous athlete. I have so much trust in him. That's the biggest thing. I know if I throw the ball as hard as I can, he's going to run under it and catch it. He's going to do whatever it takes to make the catch."

Murray and Sampson became reacquainted on the football field during offseason workouts, which included 7-on-7 tournaments. The Panthers won the annual USF Sling & Shoot and the inaugural national Nike "7 On" Football Tournament. These tournaments helped the two work on their timing, but also allowed others to shine in the offense.

"On any given play in our offense, any one of the receivers can get the ball," Murray said. "One guy doesn't get the ball all the time. We need four or five guys every time that get open. I just have to have trust in them."

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