Murray: WPIAL’s Next Elite Prospect?

With players like Paris Ford, Lamont Wade, Josh Lugg, Donovan Jeter and Kenny Robinson, the WPIAL’s Class of 2017 is star studded.  There’s a good chance that Steel Valley running back Dewayne Murray will be part of that group by the end of the season.

Last year as a sophomore, Murray was one of the WPIAL’s top backs rushing for 1,255 yards on 102 carries (12.3 average) and scoring 25 touchdowns. In his first two seasons, Murray has rushed for 2.743 yards and was named 1st team conference in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Murray, who patterns himself after Demarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott, talked to DreamBackfield.com about areas he wants to improve on this season, “My strengths are finding the hole and hitting them fast and hard but there are always areas I can improve. I’m trying to get faster and quicker with more balance and trying to get better footwork”, said Murray.

Murray has had a busy summer visiting camps, “I was at the Pitt 7 on 7 where we won the championship. I also went to West Virginia’s 7 on 7 , Penn State’s National Recruit Day, Sentianal 5 Star Showdown and Nike Combines, said Murray.

To this point, Murray holds 3 scholarship offers: West Virginia, Old Dominion and Robert Morris.  Murray tells me that he’s recently talked to the coaches at Duke.

So what about Pat Narduzzi and Pitt? Murray says, “My relationship with the Pitt staff is very good. They have made me feel like family since my Freshman year. They’ve always made me feel good when I’m around them.”

I asked Murray what it would mean to get an offer from Pitt and he said, “To get an offer from my home team would mean a lot. I have been watching their games since I was little. Just to play at home so my family could watch me, especially my mom would be the best. She’s been to all my games ever since I was 5 years old.”

Pitt has received a verbal commitment from Ohio RB Chawntez Moss (2016) and would obviously be interested in Woodland Hills RB Miles Sanders if he changes his decision on Penn State.

Current Pitt RB Depth Chart: James Conner, Chris James, Darrin Hall and Rachib Ibrahim.

Aside from Pitt, Murray would love to get an offer from Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Notre Dame.

Dewayne Murray is definitely a player Pitt fans should keep an eye on this coming season.