First Step: Murphy displays a more than serviceable first step when attacking at the line of scrimmage. When in a four-point stance, he can build up speed into his arc and corner around his offensive opponents. Rarely does he false step when playing at the line of scrimmage and as a result, this allows him to maximize his effectiveness.
Bend: Murphy is a solid athlete but can display plenty of bend around the edge. He takes wide angles to the quarterback which allows him to play with a bit more flexibility and lower pad level. Murphy displays proper body control which allows him to be an effective pass rusher with plenty of pressure.
Hand Usage: Murphy has reliable hands in run defense when correctly diagnosing blocking schemes. He can get proper placement on his opponent but wins with a nice initial punch at the proper marks. As a pass rusher, he can win with power from leverage and shows instances of using the cross chop in addition to the club rip.
Pass Rush Plan: Murphy’s pass rush plan is already pretty well-rounded. He manages to display the awareness to hit offensive tackles with his power rush in quick set situations. When in longer rushing situations, Murphy employs a cross chop, and club rip move to leverage pressure on the quarterback. Despite this, Murphy can struggle to finish reps at the top of his arc and fails to land a final counter. If he can clean up how he finishes reps, Murphy can improve his disruption and improve his sack production.
Motor/Effort: Murphy checks the box here. Seldom does he take plays off throughout games is consistently one of the more energetic players on the field. He does a good job chasing down ball carriers from backside contain.
Lateral Mobility: Murphy is not a super-athlete by any stretch however he shows better than average movement skills when operating in space. His short-area burst allows him to move efficiently despite his larger frame holding him back when needing to make decisive cuts. Leaving him unblocked is most unwise, as his explosiveness allows him to make explosive plays in the backfield in run defense.
Run Defense/Anchor: Murphy functions as a force multiplier in the run game, using proper leverage and power to defeat offensive lineman at the point of attack. He displays plus length that allows him to penetrate gaps to disrupt ball carriers and get offensive linemen off-balance. His hand force allows Murphy to properly reset offensive linemen and supplant them with a great stack and shed. Murphy has the football IQ and strength to be trusted to play the strong side of the formation to set a physical edge.
Athletic Ability: As alluded to previously, Murphy is a freak athlete but is more than serviceable nonetheless. He has the hip flexibility, and foot quickness around the edge to win against most opponents in pass-rushing situations. From a height/weight perspective, Murphy meets all of the benchmarks of an NFL 4-3 defensive end, possessing enough body mass to take on blocks with the length to disrupt gaps.
Strength: Murphy generates plenty of natural strength when engaging in his power rushes. He has plenty of core strength which allows him to stand pat in the run game.
Versatility: Murphy was asked to do a lot for the Clemson Tigers and could be asked to do the same at the next level. He’s played from a two-point stance and rush from space while standing in wider alignments. Murphy projects to a 4-3 under a scheme that prioritizes him as the five-technique.