Entering Year 10 of his skilled soccer profession, former UCF working again Latavius Murray has a message for the NFL.
“I’m ready without a doubt physically,” Murray, who’s gone unsigned this offseason, advised the Orlando Sentinel.
Murray has spent the summer time understanding at UCF with different present NFL gamers comparable to Green Bay Packers receiver Sammy Watkins and a pair of former Knights in Tre’Quan Smith of the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills wideout Gabriel Davis.
Murray appreciates UCF coach Gus Malzahn permitting him to coach at his old style, the place he performed from 2008-12.
“Gus has made it known that he wants us back and it’s an open-door policy,” Murray mentioned. “For the former players to be able to have a place to train and workout and be around some of the players that are here now, it’s a cool situation.”
The group of professional athletes have skilled underneath Bert Whigham, who works carefully with Davis and different NFL gamers.
Murray, who spent final season with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal, mentioned this offseason has been not like others. With NFL coaching camps across the league beginning this week, it’s the longest Murray has gone as a free agent.
“I’ve been trying to learn to appreciate the time that I have home with my family and appreciate not having the demands of OTAs and minicamp,” he mentioned. “Just making sure I’m ready when the time comes.”
Murray believes that point may come quickly.
“Once training camps starts up, there’ll be a lot of moves being made,” he mentioned. “The unfortunate part of the business is there’ll be injuries.”
“So who knows how the rosters end up shaking out? We know the game.”
During his 9 years within the league, Murray has turn into a sturdy working again. Outside of an ankle harm that saved him sidelined for his rookie season, he’s missed simply six video games within the following eight seasons.
He leads all NFL working backs with 107 video games performed since 2015, in accordance with CBS Sports. No different working again has performed greater than 100 video games in that span.
Murray mentioned he’s grown so much mentally and bodily since his faculty days in Orlando.
“I’ve always felt in my career that I could continue to be better and find ways to be better,” he mentioned. “I’ve done that over the years. That’s what I’ve been able to do in the NFL — continue to improve my game in ways that I haven’t previously.”
Although he’s staying in form this summer time, Murray has needed to proceed to attend with the NFL season approaching.
“It’s been frustrating for sure,” he mentioned about nonetheless being a free agent at this level in July.
Murray, nevertheless, will not be waving the white flag on his NFL profession but.
“When you’re not ready to walk away or you know you have some good football left to contribute to a team, that’s just the hard part,” he mentioned. “Knowing what you’ve got and realizing what you’ll be able to nonetheless give however not with the ability to.
“But look, it’s part of the business.”
Training at UCF whereas being round others within the NFL has helped Murray, who totaled 119 carries for 501 yards and a team-high 6 speeding touchdowns in 14 video games with the Baltimore Ravens final yr.
“A lot of people might run into that situation and maybe give up, stop training and lose the mental drive,” he mentioned. “Luckily, I’ve had quite a lot of conservations with individuals which might be nonetheless within the league who’re simply encouraging [me] simply to remain prepared.
“Right now, it’s just a waiting game.”
Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com