Boston College Football 2014: Tyler Murphy, QB

The Boston College Eagles had to turn to the Gators down in Florida to find their new starting quarterback, Tyler Murphy.

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Regionally speaking, Murphy is not unfamiliar with where he now resides. After all, he is from Connecticut and played his high school ball just outside Hartford. Yet, it was fate, and largely the efforts of Steve Addazio, that convinced him to play his college ball for the University of Florida.

In part, Addazio liked Murphy because he is a dual-threat quarterback. As we already know of our second-year coach at Boston College, that is an Addazio type of quarterback.

In 2010, Tyler Murphy redshirted and in 2011, he made his collegiate debut against Alabama-Birmingham. During the 2012 season, redshirt sophomore Murphy was named the third-string quarterback for the Gators, but also made an appearance at wide receiver for Florida.

Those were three highly uneventful years for Murphy, but 2013 would thrust him into the spotlight. Jeff Driskel broke his leg against Tennessee early in the season, and Murphy got the call to replace him. He would appear in nine games, starting six before getting hurt himself. Murphy showed some skills during that time, having a 300-yard game against Vanderbilt in November and breaking a number of runs in excess of 15 yards.

Tyler Murphy is going to find himself in an offensive system once again that looks towards the dual-threat quarterback to make things happen.

Tyler Murphy #2: Fast Facts

• Position: Quarterback
• Hometown: Wethersfield, Connecticut
• High School: Wethersfield High School
• Measurements: 6-foot-2, 214 lb.
• Class year at 2014 opener: Redshirt senior
• BC games played: 0

Tyler Murphy #2: 2013 Season (Florida)

• Backup quarterback; split duties with Skyler Mornhinweg
• Games played: 9
• Cumulative statistics: 112-for-185, 1,216 yards, 6 TD, 5 INT; 61 rushing yards, 3 TD
• Appeared on Spring 2014 roster; named Eagles’ starting quarterback

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Prior to the transfer announcement by Murphy, it looked as though the battle to replace Chase Rettig would go down to the wire. His arrival at Boston College stopped that, giving possible quarterback of the future Darius Wade (or any other underclassman contender) a redshirt year to learn and grow before he might take the helm himself.

Tyler Murphy might seem like a stopgap measure in that sense, but he is a good one at that. With all due respect to Rettig, who played with a tremendous amount of heart despite adversity caused by frequent change, Murphy is a better fit for this Addazio-Day offense. He has been a starting quarterback in the SEC and can therefore ostensibly handle whatever pressure comes with playing in the ACC.

During the spring, Murphy looked solid, and assuming his offensive line does its part, he will generate good yardage in the air and on the ground. He represents to Boston College as a respectable replacement at quarterback, and he is the best option to lead the team through its transition year.

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