Louis Murphy facts for kids
Murphy with the Oakland Raiders in 2010
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 11, 1987 St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Florida) |
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| College: | Florida | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2009 / Round: 4 / Pick: 124 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Louis Morris Murphy Jr., born on May 11, 1987, is a former professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver, a player who catches passes from the quarterback. Louis Murphy played college football for the University of Florida. During his time there, his team won two major national championships. After college, he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2009. He also played for several other NFL teams, including the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Louis Murphy was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1987. He has a mixed background, with Samoan and African-American heritage. Growing up, Louis was a very active athlete. He went to Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg.
At Lakewood, he played for the Spartans football team. He was a versatile player, playing both quarterback and wide receiver. But football wasn't his only sport! He was also a power forward on the basketball team. On the track team, he was a star in relay races. He even helped his team win a state championship in the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays when he was a sophomore. By the time he finished high school in 2005, he was considered one of the best wide receivers in the country.
College Football Career
Louis Murphy received a sports scholarship to attend the University of Florida. He played wide receiver for the Florida Gators football team from 2005 to 2008. In his first year, 2005, he mainly played on special teams. During his second year in 2006, he scored his first touchdown catch. This was a pass from future star quarterback Tim Tebow.
In 2007, Louis earned a starting spot on the team. He became one of the top receivers for the Gators. By the end of that season, he had caught 36 passes for 544 yards and scored five touchdowns.
As a senior in 2008, Louis was a team captain. He led the team in receiving yards with 655. He also had 38 catches, averaging 17.2 yards per catch. He received the Gators' Fergie Ferguson Award for his leadership. Louis reached over 1,000 career receiving yards during his senior year. He also scored his final college touchdown in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game. This game was a big win for the Gators against the Oklahoma Sooners. After the season, he had knee surgery.
Louis also competed in track and field for the Florida Gators. He was very fast, running the 55 meters in 6.36 seconds. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 with a bachelor's degree.
Professional Football Journey
Playing for the Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders chose Louis Murphy in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played for the Raiders from 2009 to 2011. He made his first NFL appearance on September 14, 2009. In that game, he caught a long 56-yard touchdown pass. Later in 2009, Louis caught another touchdown pass that helped the Raiders win against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also helped his team beat the Pittsburgh Steelers with a game-winning touchdown catch. Over time, his role in the Raiders' offense became more of a rotational player.
Time with the Carolina Panthers
On July 23, 2012, Louis Murphy was traded to the Carolina Panthers. With the Panthers, he caught 25 passes for 336 yards and scored one touchdown. This was his second season where he played in all 16 games.
Joining the New York Giants
Louis Murphy signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants on March 16, 2013. The Giants' general manager, Jerry Reese, was excited about him. He said Louis could "take the top off your defense," meaning he was a deep threat. This meant Louis could run very fast and catch long passes, adding a new exciting element to the Giants' offense.
Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 26, 2014, Louis Murphy signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was briefly released but then re-signed on September 23, 2014. He played against the Steelers and made a crucial 41-yard catch that led to a touchdown and a win. For the 2014 season, Louis proved to be a valuable player, especially as a third receiver. He had 31 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns.
In December 2014, he signed a three-year contract extension with Tampa Bay. However, he faced some injuries. In October 2015, he tore his ACL, a serious knee injury, and was placed on injured reserve. He continued to recover in 2016 but sustained another injury during practice. He was released from the team in November 2016.
With the San Francisco 49ers
Louis Murphy signed with the San Francisco 49ers on July 31, 2017. He was released in September but re-signed in November 2017. On November 26, 2017, Louis caught his first touchdown pass of the season. This pass came from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who also threw his first touchdown pass as a 49er in that game.
Final Season with Orlando Apollos
For the 2019 season, Louis Murphy signed with the Orlando Apollos. This team was part of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) league.
Family Connections
Louis Murphy is cousins with Mike Gillislee. Mike Gillislee is also a former football player who played running back for the Florida Gators and the New England Patriots.
See also
- List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft
