03/29/2024

Sep 14, 2019; Morgantown, WV, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive tackle Larrell Murchison (92) walks onto the field before their game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

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ELIZABETHTOWN – Elizabethtown’s Larrell Murchison is expected to be the first Bladen County football player ever to be drafted by the National Football League when the league holds its annual draft Thursday night thru Saturday.

“I am definitely excited,” said Murchison Tuesday. “Only 2 more days – I am counting them down.” 

Due to the limitations caused by the coronavirus the draft will not have the usual fanfare when the players are called to the stage in person, but it will still be held electronically. The first round will be Thursday night, followed by the 2nd and 3rd rounds on Friday with the final 3 rounds scheduled for Saturday.

Murchison, a 6-2, 297-pound defensive tackle, boosted his draft stock with his performances in front of NFL personnel at the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. He earned a 5.97 prospect grade out of a possible 8.0 at the combine and was only .03 of a point out of 9th best grade among defensive tackles.

To acquire that grade at the combine Murchison benched 225 pounds 29 times, broad jumped 9 feet, 10 inches, ran a 5.05 40-yard dash and measured 29 inches in the vertical jump.

Murchison has met formally with representatives of the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders. Interest has also been shown from the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.

The coronavirus also limited the prospects ability to meet with the teams in person, and the formal meetings were conducted via video conferencing, but Murchison shared that he did get an opportunity to talk to Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin while he was at the Senior Bowl.

Murchison has been projected anywhere from a late second round to fifth round pick and is represented by Chad Berger of Enter Sports Management.

Larrell and his twin brother Farrell were stars on Coach Robby Priest’s East Bladen teams that reached the 3rd round of the NCHSAA playoffs in 2 of their final 3 years. Larrell was a top-50 junior college recruit following his 2nd year at Louisburg College where he totaled 17.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

After a redshirt 2017 season at North Carolina State, Murchison earned the Wolfpack’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2018 with 34 tackles, 8 for loss, 4 sacks and a leaping interception against Florida State.

This past season Murchison won second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading the Wolfpack with 12 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks. He totaled 48 tackles and 2 pass breakups.

Coach Dave Doeren’s Wolfpack have had 4 defensive linemen (Bradley Chubb, Justin Jones, B. J. Hill, Kentavious Street) selected in the draft since 2013, and Murchison said that both Chubb and Jones have called and shared advice with him.

Desmond Bryant, another East Bladen defensive lineman, played 8 years in the NFL for the Raiders and the Cleveland Browns but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders in 2009.

While waiting for the draft, Murchison is at home in Elizabethtown working on his cardio and strength with running and weightlifting. When the draft begins Thursday night Larrell said, “I will be at home just praying and watching.”

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