Matt Murphy (tight end)
Matthew Jarrid Murphy is an American former professional football player in the National Football League. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. Murphy retired after the 2008 season.
Early life
Murphy was born to Michael and Dawn Murphy on February 23, 1980 in New Haven, Michigan. His uncle, Dwight Lee had played football in college at Michigan State where he had earned an All-American honorable mention.He attended New Haven High School where he played six positions on the football team: defensive end, defensive tackle, fullback, linebacker, tight end, and wide receiver. During his senior year in 1996, Murphy compiled 80 tackles on defense and the Detroit Free Press named him an All-Met player.
College career
Murphy attended the University of Maryland, where he played as a tight end for the Terrapins. He was the first player to commit to the Maryland's then new head coach Ron Vanderlinden.He sat out the 1997 season as a redshirt (college sports) before acting as the second-string tight end behind Eric James. That season, Murphy saw action in six games but recorded no receptions.
In 1999, Murphy was moved from tight end to defensive end. He saw action against Western Carolina Catamounts, West Virginia, and North Carolina, recording 9 quarterback hits and 2 tackles. Murphy missed 2000 spring practice due to shoulder surgery.
In 2000, he saw action in all eleven of the Terps' games, including a start as a defensive end against Virginia. He returned to the tight end role later in the season. Murphy recorded two tackles and no receptions.
In 2001, Murphy played in eleven games, compiling twelve receptions for 137 yards. This season was Maryland's best in over a decade, with the team finishing with a 10–2 record, securing the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, and a Bowl Championship Series berth against fifth-ranked Florida, where Murphy led the Terps in receptions in the losing effort.