Former Texas Longhorns quarterback Maalik Murphy was the odd man out on the roster. With Quinn Ewers returning for another season and Arch Manning waiting in the wings, Murphy felt the need to find a program where he could start. According to reports, Murphy has given a verbal commitment to Duke, and a formal announcement is expected soon.
BREAKING: Texas transfer QB Maalik Murphy has committed to Duke, per @PeteThamel. https://t.co/32izT4HrrH pic.twitter.com/PIwnMGs9fI
— On3 (@On3sports) December 23, 2023
Former Texas Longhorns QB Maalik Murphy Commits To Duke
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to break the news. He had this to say about the situation.
“Former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy has verbally committed to Duke. A formal announcement is expected soon. He’ll be immediately eligible with three years remaining, giving first-year coach Manny Diaz a key building block to start his tenure.”
Murphy made two starts this season for Texas when Ewers was sidelined with an injury. He threw for 477 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions but more importantly, led the team to two victories. The Longhorns would not be in the College Football Playoff without Murphy’s play. For new head coach Manny Diaz, this is a huge piece for his team.
2024 Outlook For Duke
Duke has started to become more than just a basketball school. Under head coach Mike Elko, they have made some noise in the ACC. Now they will hope for similar success under Diaz. The 2024 schedule is kind to the Blue Devils as it sits now. Their first ACC game is against Florida State and they follow that up with North Carolina. However, after that, Miami is the only scary team on the schedule. With the quarterback position solidified, it provides a much stronger outlook for the program.
It stinks that Murphy will not be able to be with the Longhorns for the College Football Playoff but that is how the college football schedule works. He will now shift his attention elsewhere and hope that he can lead the Blue Devils to the top of the ACC.