Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Ex-Gorman star DeMarco Murray transitioning into life as a pro athlete

Record-setting Oklahoma rusher receiving promotional help from friends at UFC

DeMarco Murray

Special to the Sun

Former Bishop Gorman High and Oklahoma football star DeMarco Murray is in contention to be on the cover of the newest EA Sports NCAA Football video game.

DeMarco Murray has yet to play a down of NFL football, but the former Bishop Gorman High and Oklahoma star already has had a small taste of the life of a professional athlete.

He recently signed an endorsement deal with adidas, had dinner with members of the rock group Kings of Leon (they are big-time OU football fans) and was announced as one of the celebrities in attendance during a UFC weigh-in during the organization’s New York-area card two weeks ago.

Former Bishop Gorman High star DeMarco Murray has signed an endorsement deal with adidas.

Former Bishop Gorman High star DeMarco Murray has signed an endorsement deal with adidas.

Murray, who is expected to be selected in late-April in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, has taken the lifestyle change in stride. He still operates under the mindset of a player who has much to prove, not one of the draft’s highest-ranked running backs.

“He always wants to be the best at whatever he does,” said David White, his coach at Gorman who also spent three years as an assistant at Oklahoma. “I’ve told him to not get caught up with where or in what round he gets picked. He knows he’ll have to go out and prove himself.”

Murray ended his career at Oklahoma in 2010 as one of the Sooners’ post prolific offensive players, finishing as the school’s all-time leader in points (390), touchdowns (65) and all-purpose yards (6,718).

Because of his collegiate dominance, Murray was one of four former stars in contention to be on the cover of the newest EA Sports NCAA Football video game. The athlete who received the most online votes among Murray, Alabama’s Mark Ingram, Washington’s Jake Locker and Auburn’s Nick Fairley will receive the honor. Voting ended Monday.

“I’m just very blessed and privileged to be mentioned, and to have the opportunity to be on the cover,” said Murray, who if selected would appear in his white Oklahoma jersey.

Murray can credit friendships from his Gorman days for helping secure votes. The UFC, which is co-owned by Gorman graduate Lorenzo Fertitta, became Murray’s biggest supporter, posting videos on its website urging fans to vote and inviting him to several events.

Also, UFC President Dana White asked followers on Twitter to vote for Murray — bringing several thousand votes. If selected, Murray has agreed to wear a UFC logo on draft night.

“Lorenzo is a great, great guy,” said Murray, who frequently trains in mixed martial arts at Fertitta’s gym while in Las Vegas. “He's someone who cares a lot about people. He’s a great friend of mine.”

White, who now works in commercial relations for the UFC, said getting on the Murray bandwagon was an easy thing to do. Murray is more than a special athlete -- he’s a special person, White said.

“It’s a very unique situation for me to be as close as I am with DeMarco,” White said. “To watch him grow from a ninth-grader at Gorman to being drafted in the NFL is just incredible. It speaks volumes for how hard he had worked.”

At Gorman, Murray was the Sunset Region Player of the Year as a senior, rushing for 1,947 yards and 27 touchdowns and catching 22 passes for 624 yards and seven touchdowns.

It’s the type of success he plans on continuing on football’s biggest stage.

“Nothing is going to be handed to me,” Murray said. “My mentality has to be to just keep getting better and to be a hard worker.”

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy