Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV

75 Matt Murphy

Matt Murphy
  • Offensive Line
  • Grade: Senior
  • Height: 6′4″
  • Weight: 300 lbs
Greene's Take: In most cases, an offensive line's success starts with the performance of its left tackle. UNLV has one of the MWC's best in senior Matt Murphy. The interesting trend to watch with Murphy, though, is how he and the rest of the line adjust from a wide-gap, pass-protection approach to being a downhill, run-blocking group.

UNLV: The veteran anchor of the Rebel offensive line has played in every game of his career, including starting 33 consecutive dates at left tackle ... An honors candidate as a senior who is a preseason First Team All-MWC pick by Lindy's and second team selection by Phil Steele's and Athlon ... Listed as the preseason No. 42 OT in the nation by Phil Steele's and ranked as the conference's No. 6 NFL talent by Lindy's ... Came in and played right away as a rookie in 2007 at the difficult position and earned First Team Freshman All-America honors ... Won UNLV football's Outstanding Character Award after junior season ... A community-minded student-athlete who was his program's 2010 nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team ... Earned a spot on the Dean's Honor List in spring 2009 and has taken home Academic All-MWC honors for three straight seasons.

2009: Started all 12 games at left tackle and earned honorable mention All-MWC in his junior campaign ... A preseason Second Team All-MWC selection by Lindy's and Phil Steele's ... Ranked the nation's No. 55 tackle by Phil Steele's.

2008: Named Second Team All-Mountain West Conference by Phil Steele's ... Started all 12 games at left tackle, extending his streak to 21 consecutive starts at the most difficult position on the offensive line ... Allowed only one QB sack.

2007: Played in all 12 games and started the last nine at left tackle ... Averaged 76 plays and three knockdowns per game after taking over the key spot ... Helped leading rusher Frank Summers net 928 yards, the eighth-best single-season total in UNLV history ... Murphy allowed only three sacks in 12 games and graded out at nearly 80 percent for the year ... Named to the prestigious Football Writers of America and AON Insurance Freshman All-American Team, one of only 12 true freshmen on the list ... Earned honorable mention All-MWC.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2006 graduate of El Toro HS ... Lettered three times and was a team captain as a senior for the Chargers under coach Jake Haley ... A two-way player who lined up at both offensive tackle and nose tackle ... Totaled 56 tackles on defense as a senior ... Earned first team all-league and first team All-CIF honors ... A multi-sport athlete who also lettered in wrestling as well as competing in the shot put and discus in track and field.

PERSONAL: Matthew William Murphy was born on July 27, 1989, in Anaheim, CA ... The son of Laurie and Francis Murphy ... Has an older brother, Patrick, and two younger sisters, Mollie and Emilee ... Majoring in secondary education.

--Courtesy of UNLVRebels.com