DeMarco Murray
Encyclopedia
DeMarco Murray is an American football
running back
for the Dallas Cowboys
who played high school football for Bishop Gorman and college football for the Oklahoma Sooners
.
in Las Vegas, Nevada
, where he was an all-conference pick three consecutive years. At Gorman, he was a teammate of fellow OU Sooner Ryan Reynolds
. During his time at Gorman, his team was 3-time Conference Champions. As a senior in 2005, he rushed for 1,947 yards and 27 touchdowns and also caught 22 passes for 624 yards and 7 touchdowns, earning him all-state honors and the 2005 Sunset Region Offensive Player of the Year award. Murray played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
. At Gorman he played along activist and business man Phillip Bravo.
Considered one of the top running backs of his class alongside Chris Wells
, C. J. Spiller
and Michael Goodson, Murray drew offers from Miami (Fl.)
, Penn State
and Texas A&M
among others. He chose Oklahoma over Southern California
at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
the 2006 NCAA football season.
In his first game for the Oklahoma Sooners on September 1, 2007 vs. University of North Texas
, Murray rushed for 201 yards and five touchdown
s, becoming the first player to score four touchdown
s in a half in his Sooner debut. On September 15, 2007 against Utah State University
, Murray entered the Oklahoma football record book when he had a touchdown
run of 92 yards, which is the third longest in Oklahoma football history.
Murray tied Adrian Peterson's freshman touchdown
record in 2007 with 15.
He logged a 4.42 (team best) 40 time and a 36.5-inch vertical jump during the 2007 winter testing.
On October 16, 2010 Murray passed Steve Owens as the all-time touchdown
leader at the University of Oklahoma
with 58 touchdown
s. He ended his college career with 65 touchdown
s, becoming only the fifth player in Big 12 conference
history to score at least 60 career touchdown
s.
Murray had 3,685 career rushing yards (4.86 avg.) with 50 touchdown
s, 157 career catches with 13 touchdown
s, and 1,462 kickoff return
yards with 2 touchdown
s.
by the Dallas Cowboys
. Murray was the sixth running back chosen in the draft after Mark Ingram
(1st round, 28th overall by New Orleans Saints), Ryan Williams
(2nd round, 38th overall by Arizona Cardinals), Shane Vereen
(2nd round, 56th overall by New England Patriots), Mikel Leshoure
(2nd round, 57th overall by Detroit Lions) and Daniel Thomas
(2nd round, 62nd overall by Miami Dolphins).
Murray signed a four-year contract with the Cowboys worth $2.97 million including a signing bonus worth $622,000 on July 29, 2011.
and 2nd string running back Tashard Choice
.
Week 1 @New York Jets In the first game of the 2011 season against the New York Jets
Murray received 2 carries for 0 yards and 1 reception for 13 receiving yards.
Week 2 @San Francisco 49ers The following game at the San Francisco 49ers
Murray carried the ball 6 times for 21 yards with a long run of 8 yards and added a reception for 4 yards.
Week 3 vs. Washington Redskins The third game of the season netted 2 carries for 6 yards for Murray against division rivals Washington Redskins
.
Week 4 vs. Detroit Lions Against the Detroit Lions
Murray carried the ball 4 times for 12 yards and added 1 reception for -1 yard.
Week 6 @New England Patriots For game 5 of the 2011 season the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Gillette Stadium
to face the New England Patriots
. In this game, starter Felix Jones went down with a high-ankle sprain, which increased the amount of opportunities for Murray. Murray finished the day with 11 carries for 34 yards and added 1 reception for 7 yards . .
Week 7 vs. St. Louis Rams With the Cowboys owning a record of 2-3, the Cowboys faced the St. Louis Rams
next. Starter Felix Jones was declared out for the game due to the high ankle sprain injury sustained the week before. The team declared Tashard Choice the starter for the game and Murray as the 2nd string running back.
Murray ran for 253 yards on 25 carries against the St. Louis Rams at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, breaking Emmitt Smith
's single game rushing record for a Cowboys running back
of 237 yards (set at Philadelphia against the Eagles
on October 31, 1993
). The record total included a first-quarter 91-yard touchdown
run that is second longest in Cowboys history, after a NFL-record 99-yard run by Tony Dorsett
in January 1983
. Among the other records he set during this game were:
After the St. Louis Rams' game, Tashard Choice was released leaving the team with only two healthy running backs, rookie Phillip Tanner and rookie DeMarco Murray with Felix Jones still sidelined with an injury .
Week 8 @Philadelphia Eagles Murray followed his record-breaking game against the St. Louis Rams by getting the first start of his career against the Philadelphia Eagles
. Against the Eagles, Murray only received 8 carries as the Cowboys got behind in the scoreboard early in the game. Murray did however make the most of the limited carries by rushing for 74 yards posting a 9.3 rushing average with no touchdowns. Most of his rushing yards came on long gains of 26, 20 and 15 yards. He also added a reception for minus 2 yards.
Week 9 vs. Seattle Seahawks The following week, Murray got his second start of his career against the Seattle Seahawks
. Murray continued his success running the ball posting 139 yards on 22 carries for a 6.3 per carry average and also added 4 receptions for 47 yards helping his team win the contest 23 - 13. With his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season, Murray becomes the first Cowboy since Julius Jones
in 2004 to post multiple 100+ yard rushing games as a rookie. With 466 rushing yards over the last three games, Murray tied Eric Dickerson
for the fifth-highest total all-time by an NFL rookie during a three-game span. The record is 577 set by Mike Anderson
of the Denver Broncos
in 2000. The 466 rushing yards in the three game span is the most ever by any Cowboys player , surpassing 446 yards by Emmitt Smith
during his MVP season of 1993. On November 8th, 2011, Jerry Jones compared Demarco to Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.
Week 10 vs. Buffalo Bills In the fifth win of the Dallas Cowboys season against the Buffalo Bills
, Murray posted 135 rushing yards on 20 carries and a rushing touchdown along with 6 receptions for 36 yards. In this game, Murray also had the first fumble of his career. Murray recovered his own fumble.
Week 11 @Washington Redskins Murray gained 73 rushing yards on 25 carries and 32 receiving yards on a team-leading 6 receptions as his team went on to win in overtime against the Washington Redskins. .
Week 12 vs. Miami Dolphins In the Thanksgiving game against the Miami Dolphins, Murray gained 87 rushing yards on 22 carries and 4 receptions for 41 yards in the last second win.
Week 13 @Arizona Cardinals
After 11 games, Murray led all NFL rookie players (with 40 or more carries) in average per carry (5.7 per carry), yards per game (75.8 yards), rushing yards (834 yards) on 147 carries (most among rookie players). Murray tied for third among rookie players for rushing touchdowns with 2; Carolina Panthers
' quarterback Cam Newton
led all rookie players with 10 rushing touchdowns. Murray also was 9th in receptions among all rookie players and 2nd among rookie running backs with 25 receptions. He was also 2nd in receiving yards among rookie running backs with 177.
Among all NFL running backs, Murray with 5 starts in 11 games, had the second highest average per carry for a running back with 50 or more carries trailing only Darren Sproles
' 6.8 yards per carry on 59 attempts. Murray's 834 rushing yards ranked 9th among all NFL running backs and 7th in the NFC (LeSean McCoy
led the league with 1050 rushing yards).
The Cowboys are 5-0 for the season when Murray gets 20+ touches in the game. In these 5 games, starting quarterback Tony Romo
is averaging a passer rating
of 112.10, 246.60 yards per game, along with 12 combined touchdown passes with 2 interceptions and a 66.99% pass completion rate. Murray is 4-1 as a starter. With 5 games left on the season, Murray is just 166 yards shy of reaching 1000 yards on the ground, which would make him the only Cowboy's player since Julius Jones
in 2006 to reach 1000 rushing yards in a season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
who played high school football for Bishop Gorman and college football for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
High school career
DeMarco Murray, attended Bishop Gorman High SchoolBishop Gorman High School
Bishop Gorman High School is a Roman Catholic private preparatory school located in Summerlin, in Clark County, Nevada, United States serving the Las Vegas area for over 50 years. The school is administered by the Diocese of Las Vegas...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, where he was an all-conference pick three consecutive years. At Gorman, he was a teammate of fellow OU Sooner Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds (American football)
Ryan Reynolds is a former linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was a four-year standout in football and judo in high school, both at Lake Havasu High School in Arizona and at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was recognized nationally.-High school career:Reynolds was a...
. During his time at Gorman, his team was 3-time Conference Champions. As a senior in 2005, he rushed for 1,947 yards and 27 touchdowns and also caught 22 passes for 624 yards and 7 touchdowns, earning him all-state honors and the 2005 Sunset Region Offensive Player of the Year award. Murray played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
. At Gorman he played along activist and business man Phillip Bravo.
Considered one of the top running backs of his class alongside Chris Wells
Chris Wells (American football)
Chris "Beanie" Michael Wells is an American football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League...
, C. J. Spiller
C. J. Spiller
Clifford "C.J." Spiller Jr. is an American Football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was an All-American at Clemson University and was drafted 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft...
and Michael Goodson, Murray drew offers from Miami (Fl.)
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
among others. He chose Oklahoma over Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
College career
Murray redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 2006 NCAA football season.
In his first game for the Oklahoma Sooners on September 1, 2007 vs. University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
, Murray rushed for 201 yards and five touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, becoming the first player to score four touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in a half in his Sooner debut. On September 15, 2007 against Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, Murray entered the Oklahoma football record book when he had a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run of 92 yards, which is the third longest in Oklahoma football history.
Murray tied Adrian Peterson's freshman touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
record in 2007 with 15.
He logged a 4.42 (team best) 40 time and a 36.5-inch vertical jump during the 2007 winter testing.
On October 16, 2010 Murray passed Steve Owens as the all-time touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
leader at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
with 58 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He ended his college career with 65 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, becoming only the fifth player in Big 12 conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
history to score at least 60 career touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
Murray had 3,685 career rushing yards (4.86 avg.) with 50 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, 157 career catches with 13 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, and 1,462 kickoff return
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
yards with 2 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
Career Records at University of Oklahoma
- All-Time Leader in Points Scored (390)
- All-Time Leader in TouchdownTouchdownA touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s (65) - All-Time Leader in All Purpose Yards (6,718)
- All-Time Leader in Receiving Yards for a Running Back (1,571)
- All-Time Leader in kickoff returnKickoff (American football)A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
average (27.58)
Statistics
source: espn.com| YEAR | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LST | |
| 2007 | 127 | 764 | 6.0 | 92 | 13 | 14 | 60 | 4.3 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 179 | 1002 | 5.6 | 70 | 14 | 31 | 395 | 12.7 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 171 | 705 | 4.1 | 38 | 8 | 41 | 522 | 12.7 | 67 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 282 | 1214 | 4.3 | 63 | 15 | 71 | 594 | 8.6 | 76 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Dallas Cowboys
Murray was selected in the third round (71st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Murray was the sixth running back chosen in the draft after Mark Ingram
Mark Ingram
Mark Ingram, Sr. is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants , the Miami Dolphins , the Green Bay Packers , and the Philadelphia Eagles .He is the father of 2009 Heisman Trophy winner and New Orleans Saints running back Mark...
(1st round, 28th overall by New Orleans Saints), Ryan Williams
Ryan Williams
Ryan Neil Williams is an English footballer who currently plays for Gainsborough Trinity.-Career:...
(2nd round, 38th overall by Arizona Cardinals), Shane Vereen
Shane Vereen
Shane Patrick-Henry Vereen is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted 56th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.-Early years:...
(2nd round, 56th overall by New England Patriots), Mikel Leshoure
Mikel Leshoure
Mikel Leshoure is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions.-Early years:Leshoure attended Centennial High School in Champaign, Illinois...
(2nd round, 57th overall by Detroit Lions) and Daniel Thomas
Daniel Thomas
Daniel Thomas may refer to:* Daniel Thomas * Daniel Holcombe Thomas , United States federal judge* Daniel E. Thomas , American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church* Daniel M...
(2nd round, 62nd overall by Miami Dolphins).
Murray signed a four-year contract with the Cowboys worth $2.97 million including a signing bonus worth $622,000 on July 29, 2011.
Rookie Season
DeMarco Murray started the year as the 3rd string running back on the team behind starter Felix JonesFelix Jones
Felix Jones is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. After playing college football and majoring in kinesiology at the University of Arkansas, he was drafted by the Cowboys 22nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft...
and 2nd string running back Tashard Choice
Tashard Choice
Tashard J. Choice , is an American football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He played collegiately at Georgia Tech. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.Choice began his collegiate career at The University of Oklahoma but...
.
Week 1 @New York Jets In the first game of the 2011 season against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Murray received 2 carries for 0 yards and 1 reception for 13 receiving yards.
Week 2 @San Francisco 49ers The following game at the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
Murray carried the ball 6 times for 21 yards with a long run of 8 yards and added a reception for 4 yards.
Week 3 vs. Washington Redskins The third game of the season netted 2 carries for 6 yards for Murray against division rivals Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
Week 4 vs. Detroit Lions Against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
Murray carried the ball 4 times for 12 yards and added 1 reception for -1 yard.
Week 6 @New England Patriots For game 5 of the 2011 season the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
to face the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. In this game, starter Felix Jones went down with a high-ankle sprain, which increased the amount of opportunities for Murray. Murray finished the day with 11 carries for 34 yards and added 1 reception for 7 yards . .
Week 7 vs. St. Louis Rams With the Cowboys owning a record of 2-3, the Cowboys faced the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
next. Starter Felix Jones was declared out for the game due to the high ankle sprain injury sustained the week before. The team declared Tashard Choice the starter for the game and Murray as the 2nd string running back.
Murray ran for 253 yards on 25 carries against the St. Louis Rams at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, breaking Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
's single game rushing record for a Cowboys running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
of 237 yards (set at Philadelphia against the Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 31, 1993
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
). The record total included a first-quarter 91-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run that is second longest in Cowboys history, after a NFL-record 99-yard run by Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
in January 1983
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
. Among the other records he set during this game were:
- Rookie rushing record for a game in club history, previously held by Tony DorsettTony DorsettAnthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
(206 yards in 19771977 NFL seasonThe 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
). - His 10.1 yards-per-carry is the highest rushing average with 20-or-more attempts for a game in club history, previously held by Tony DorsettTony DorsettAnthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
(8.96 in 19771977 NFL seasonThe 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
). - The 10th most rushing yards in a game in league history.
- The second-most rushing yards in a game by a rookie in league history.
- Second-longest touchdownTouchdownA touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
run on a player’s first career rushing touchdownTouchdownA touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
in league history - The most rushing yards by a running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in one game, ever allowed by the Rams in club history (Los Angeles and Saint Louis).
After the St. Louis Rams' game, Tashard Choice was released leaving the team with only two healthy running backs, rookie Phillip Tanner and rookie DeMarco Murray with Felix Jones still sidelined with an injury .
Week 8 @Philadelphia Eagles Murray followed his record-breaking game against the St. Louis Rams by getting the first start of his career against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Against the Eagles, Murray only received 8 carries as the Cowboys got behind in the scoreboard early in the game. Murray did however make the most of the limited carries by rushing for 74 yards posting a 9.3 rushing average with no touchdowns. Most of his rushing yards came on long gains of 26, 20 and 15 yards. He also added a reception for minus 2 yards.
Week 9 vs. Seattle Seahawks The following week, Murray got his second start of his career against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Murray continued his success running the ball posting 139 yards on 22 carries for a 6.3 per carry average and also added 4 receptions for 47 yards helping his team win the contest 23 - 13. With his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season, Murray becomes the first Cowboy since Julius Jones
Julius Jones
Julius Andre Maurice Jones is an American football running back who played college football at the University of Notre Dame and is currently a member of the Free Agent Class of the National Football League. Before signing with the Saints on October 12, 2010, Julius had stints with the Dallas...
in 2004 to post multiple 100+ yard rushing games as a rookie. With 466 rushing yards over the last three games, Murray tied Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
for the fifth-highest total all-time by an NFL rookie during a three-game span. The record is 577 set by Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson
Michael Moschello "Mike" Anderson is a former American football running back and Marine. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and also played for the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career...
of the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2000. The 466 rushing yards in the three game span is the most ever by any Cowboys player , surpassing 446 yards by Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
during his MVP season of 1993. On November 8th, 2011, Jerry Jones compared Demarco to Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.
Week 10 vs. Buffalo Bills In the fifth win of the Dallas Cowboys season against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Murray posted 135 rushing yards on 20 carries and a rushing touchdown along with 6 receptions for 36 yards. In this game, Murray also had the first fumble of his career. Murray recovered his own fumble.
Week 11 @Washington Redskins Murray gained 73 rushing yards on 25 carries and 32 receiving yards on a team-leading 6 receptions as his team went on to win in overtime against the Washington Redskins. .
Week 12 vs. Miami Dolphins In the Thanksgiving game against the Miami Dolphins, Murray gained 87 rushing yards on 22 carries and 4 receptions for 41 yards in the last second win.
Week 13 @Arizona Cardinals
After 11 games, Murray led all NFL rookie players (with 40 or more carries) in average per carry (5.7 per carry), yards per game (75.8 yards), rushing yards (834 yards) on 147 carries (most among rookie players). Murray tied for third among rookie players for rushing touchdowns with 2; Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
' quarterback Cam Newton
Cam Newton
Cameron Lemark Newton is a former American football safety. He played college football at Furman University, then played two seasons in the NFL, one each for the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. He was cut from the Panthers before the 2007 season...
led all rookie players with 10 rushing touchdowns. Murray also was 9th in receptions among all rookie players and 2nd among rookie running backs with 25 receptions. He was also 2nd in receiving yards among rookie running backs with 177.
Among all NFL running backs, Murray with 5 starts in 11 games, had the second highest average per carry for a running back with 50 or more carries trailing only Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles
Darren Lee Sproles is an American football running back of the NFL who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
' 6.8 yards per carry on 59 attempts. Murray's 834 rushing yards ranked 9th among all NFL running backs and 7th in the NFC (LeSean McCoy
LeSean McCoy
-Philadelphia Eagles:McCoy was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract with the team on June 29, 2009....
led the league with 1050 rushing yards).
The Cowboys are 5-0 for the season when Murray gets 20+ touches in the game. In these 5 games, starting quarterback Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
is averaging a passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
of 112.10, 246.60 yards per game, along with 12 combined touchdown passes with 2 interceptions and a 66.99% pass completion rate. Murray is 4-1 as a starter. With 5 games left on the season, Murray is just 166 yards shy of reaching 1000 yards on the ground, which would make him the only Cowboy's player since Julius Jones
Julius Jones
Julius Andre Maurice Jones is an American football running back who played college football at the University of Notre Dame and is currently a member of the Free Agent Class of the National Football League. Before signing with the Saints on October 12, 2010, Julius had stints with the Dallas...
in 2006 to reach 1000 rushing yards in a season.