The Kyler Experience: Murrays reflect on journey to A&M signee

ALLEN – When Kyler Murray put his signature on a Texas A&M football letter of intent at 10:48 a.m. Wednesday, he did more than merely write his name.

He answered those who doubted his word, his heart and his competitive spirit.

A Wednesday night trip to Austin, a tweeted photo of a No. 1 Texas jersey and an orange necktie left some Aggies in a state of panic.

Some lashed out via message boards and social media. They questioned his integrity because he took the visit despite having given his commitment to Texas A&M. Some others suggested he did not want to compete with A&M sophomore-to-be Kyle Allen to be the Aggies' starting quarterback.

Think about that. A kid who’d never lost a game as Allen High School’s starting quarterback, who led the Eagles to three state championships, who has earned virtually every accolade available to a high school superstar, afraid to compete? The very idea is preposterous.

Kyler Murray will come to College Station this summer with a chip on his shoulder. He’ll come with a point to prove. He’ll come to challenge Allen with the intention of winning the starting quarterback job, and perhaps become a legend like his father.

But on Wednesday morning at the Allen indoor practice facility, Kyler Murray was in a forgiving mood. Donning a maroon-and-black Texas A&M jacket, he accepted the Aggies’ scholarship offer in front of a huge audience of Allen High School classmates, teachers, coaches and a throng of media.

He said that he looked forward to the competition with Allen, who started the final five games for the Aggies last season.

“For me, I can’t wait,” Kyler said. “Just what I’ve done at the high school level, when I get to college I know nobody will care what I did here. For me, that’s the fun part of the game — to make the next jump. All the doubters … prove them wrong. I’m just going to go in and work hard and see what happens.”

Throughout most of the signing ceremony Kyler flashed a broad smile. But standing by a wall well out of the way, his father — legendary Texas A&M quarterback Kevin Murray — watched stoically.

He wasn’t smiling.

“If I smile people will think I’m a nice guy,” Kevin joked.

Well, he might have been joking.

The last couple of week weren’t easy for him or his family. The social media attacks, as he called them, didn’t sit well with him.

But then, what father wouldn’t be upset when his son is disparaged by faceless critics hiding behind the security of a username?

“We’re just glad (the recruiting process) is over,” said Kevin, who was also decked out in A&M gear. “I guess over the course of the last couple of weeks it became a little more trying. I’m old enough to understand it, but my son is 17 years old. People get personal. There are personal attacks and things of that nature. Really?

“My kid sees that stuff. He reads that stuff. I just think it’s unfair. Does it disturb me? Yeah.
Wouldn’t you be disturbed if it was your kid?

Recruiting tug-of-wars can bring out of the worst in die-hard fans, especially when an arch-rival is involved. The mere possibility that Kyler would even consider the Longhorns unnerved some. After all, his father was an Aggie. They wondered how an Aggie could even entertain the possibility of having a son play for Texas.

Archie Manning once said he felt almost vilified by his alma mater Ole Miss when his son, Peyton, chose to attend Tennessee. Kevin Murray may have had a similar feeling.

“Listen, I don’t owe anybody anything regarding my family,” Kevin said. “Nowadays social media gives idiots a format to open their mouths and say what they want to say about my kid. My son owes no one anything.”

Instead, some owe the Murrays an apology — and not because Kyler ultimately signed with A&M.

Can’t a kid consider all his college options without criticism?

Actually, the visit in Austin only confirmed to Kyler that A&M was the place for him.

“It feels great (to sign with A&M),” Kyler said. “Since this recruiting process has started it’s been a dream come true. It’s definitely a blessing. (A&M) is where I felt most comfortable and where I feel I can be most dangerous.

“Me and coach Spav (Offensive Coordinator Jake Spavital) have a great relationship. We’ll definitely be able to go to work.”

That’s regardless of who else is on the depth chart.

“Keep in mind that when he committed to Texas A&M (last May) they had two quarterbacks, not one,” Kevin said.

Unless Kyler is lured into professional baseball, the Aggies will have two quarterbacks next season — two extremely talented ones.

Allen was ranked as the nation’s top passing quarterback prospect in the 2014 recruiting class. Last season he passed for 1,322 yards and 16 touchdowns. He progressively improved after taking over the starting role when Kenny Hill was suspended.

Kyler is the nation’s top ranked dual threat quarterback in the nation this year. As a senior he passed for 4,713 yards and 54 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,485 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The Aggies may have the nation’s best quarterback depth south of Columbus, Ohio. That is, if Kyler proves to be as effective at the collegiate level as he was in high school.

Kevin, who has coached Kyler all his life, predicts his son will have tremendous success at A&M.

“It’s not easy being my son,” Kevin said. “He’s a tough-minded kid. Age has nothing to do with success. Just because you’re 15-years-old doesn’t mean you can’t play with 17-, 18-, 19-year-old kids on Friday night. Are you good enough? Are you tough enough? Do you know what you’re doing?

“The same thing applies to the next level. The kid turns 18 in August. Who’s to say an 18-year-old can’t succeed against a 21- or 22-year old? The game is obviously faster. But I learned a long time ago, don’t put anything past Kyler.”

Kevin Sumlin certainly isn’t.

“Kyler’s a guy that isn’t afraid of competition,” Sumlin said in his signing day press conference. “You don’t win 43 games in a row and be afraid of not playing. He won three state championships. That was never a situation.”

A&M’s quarterback situation projects to be very strong. Now, all those panicked Aggies that lashed out at Kyler are praising him. Now, they can rest easy — at least until the Major League Baseball draft.

Now, everyone is happy.

That includes Kevin.

“I’m happy,” Kevin said, “Because Kyler is happy.”