Q&A with Oxford coach Jeffrey Clarkson on his star RB, Niko Murray
Over the course of the offseason, MassVarsity pored over a lot of film to find some of the best players in the Commonwealth.
One such student-athlete was Oxford High's Niko Murray, a dominant running back who can play on either side of the ball at a high level.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Murray put up insane numbers for the Pirates as a junior last season, as he carried the ball 160 times for 2,040 yards and 34 touchdowns. Yes, that's 12.75 yards per carry.
We reached out Monday to speak with Oxford coach Jeffrey Clarkson about Murray.
Here is an edited transcript of that conversation.
MV: Could you describe Murray's skill-set?
JC: He's an intelligent young man, just to begin with. He's a smart, smart kid. On his PSAT's, I think he got an an 1100-something on them.
So his knowledge on-field, it's just unbelievable. He knows everything that's going on, every position. He knows the whole offense, the whole defense.
He's just such an explosive player. He'll do an inside run. If it's not there, he's gone. He'll just step outside and he'll go. He probably averaged, honestly, about 15 carries a game last year. That's not a lot.
And I'm sitting here talking to my coaches, and we're not going to use him as much on offense. I want to try and pace him a little bit better. When we did hit the games that we needed last year, that's the thing about him, he'd have an 80-yard run. He'll get three 80-yard runs and he'd be done, and that's it. But he'd be exhausted and beat up.
So we'll try to use him a little bit different and try to pace him until the playoffs. Hoping we make the playoffs. Assuming we make the playoffs, we want to use him a little bit differently.
We may not play him as much on defense. He played middle linebacker for us last year because he was the best athlete on the field, and we're going to move him to safety this year on defense.
But his speed, honestly, it's like watching him on video. It's like getting shot right out of a cannon. It's amazing to see him just run right by people.
MV: What does he run for a 40?
JC: He ran a 4.62 at Boston College's camp this summer. His personal best is (4.54).
MV: What do you think his college position is?
JC: I think he could play safety, corner, or running back. Definitely running back.
MV: He seems like one of those kids who can play wherever he wants.
JC: He's an athlete. He can jump. He can run. He's pretty amazing.
He kind of jumpstarted my program early. My first season we were 0-11. Next year we won one game, went 1-10. Then, last year, went 8-3.
MV: What kind of schools are looking at him now?
JC: University of Maine likes him. UConn called and asked. They just sent me an email. They think he can play there.
MV: Of course he can.
JC: Yeah, yeah. No doubt. Honestly, he's a Division 1 player all day. I played at Northeastern, and I can pretty much gauge where kids are pretty decent. And, yeah, he's there. But he can definitely play either side of the ball in college.
But every Division, every Division 3 school has sent him something, pretty much every Division 2.
One such student-athlete was Oxford High's Niko Murray, a dominant running back who can play on either side of the ball at a high level.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Murray put up insane numbers for the Pirates as a junior last season, as he carried the ball 160 times for 2,040 yards and 34 touchdowns. Yes, that's 12.75 yards per carry.
We reached out Monday to speak with Oxford coach Jeffrey Clarkson about Murray.
Here is an edited transcript of that conversation.
MV: Could you describe Murray's skill-set?
JC: He's an intelligent young man, just to begin with. He's a smart, smart kid. On his PSAT's, I think he got an an 1100-something on them.
So his knowledge on-field, it's just unbelievable. He knows everything that's going on, every position. He knows the whole offense, the whole defense.
He's just such an explosive player. He'll do an inside run. If it's not there, he's gone. He'll just step outside and he'll go. He probably averaged, honestly, about 15 carries a game last year. That's not a lot.
And I'm sitting here talking to my coaches, and we're not going to use him as much on offense. I want to try and pace him a little bit better. When we did hit the games that we needed last year, that's the thing about him, he'd have an 80-yard run. He'll get three 80-yard runs and he'd be done, and that's it. But he'd be exhausted and beat up.
So we'll try to use him a little bit different and try to pace him until the playoffs. Hoping we make the playoffs. Assuming we make the playoffs, we want to use him a little bit differently.
We may not play him as much on defense. He played middle linebacker for us last year because he was the best athlete on the field, and we're going to move him to safety this year on defense.
But his speed, honestly, it's like watching him on video. It's like getting shot right out of a cannon. It's amazing to see him just run right by people.
MV: What does he run for a 40?
JC: He ran a 4.62 at Boston College's camp this summer. His personal best is (4.54).
MV: What do you think his college position is?
JC: I think he could play safety, corner, or running back. Definitely running back.
MV: He seems like one of those kids who can play wherever he wants.
JC: He's an athlete. He can jump. He can run. He's pretty amazing.
He kind of jumpstarted my program early. My first season we were 0-11. Next year we won one game, went 1-10. Then, last year, went 8-3.
MV: What kind of schools are looking at him now?
JC: University of Maine likes him. UConn called and asked. They just sent me an email. They think he can play there.
MV: Of course he can.
JC: Yeah, yeah. No doubt. Honestly, he's a Division 1 player all day. I played at Northeastern, and I can pretty much gauge where kids are pretty decent. And, yeah, he's there. But he can definitely play either side of the ball in college.
But every Division, every Division 3 school has sent him something, pretty much every Division 2.
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