NFL Draft Profile: Caleb Murphy, EDGE, Ferris State Bulldogs
Caleb Murphy
Ferris State Bulldogs
#12
Pos: EDGE
Ht: 6030
Wt: 254
Hand: 1028
Arm: 3268
Wing: 7928
40: 4.81
DOB: 12/15/1999
Hometown: Campbellsburg, IN
High School: West Washington
Eligibility: 2023
One Liner:
Murphy dominated the Division II level with his hustle, physical traits, and work ethic, but he faces a steep learning curve in the NFL.
Evaluation:
Murphy took official measurements at the Shrine Bowl. He’s 6030 and weighs 254 lbs. He has ten-inch hands, 32 5/8-inch arms, and a 79 3/4-inch wingspan. At Ferris State, Murphy frequently took snaps in a stand up two-point stance but also has experience in a three-point stance. He took advantage of some snaps from wider alignments in the 7 and 9-tech positions while also receiving a steady diet of snaps in a traditional 5-tech role. Ferris State occasionally dropped Murphy into coverage as an inside linebacker or blitzed him from that alignment so he could ram into guards with a full head of steam. Those aren’t roles he’ll fulfill in the NFL. Murphy imposed his physical dominance on the NCAA Division II level during his two seasons with the Bulldogs. Many of the opponents he faced had no counter for his acceleration, closing burst, and power. A large portion of his wins came from hustle plays and out-athlete-ing the competition. However, Murphy still displays many desirable traits. He quickly accelerates into his rush and activates his hands early in the play. Murphy gets into and attacks the tackle’s chest, frequently converting speed to power on a bull rush or deploying a long arm move. He also uses a double-handed swipe, rip move, and spin move. His hands pack enough pop to stun linemen. Murphy showed flashes of reducing his surface area and attempting to dip under tackles at the peak of his rush. The Michigan native has strong leg drive and excellent closing speed as a backside run defender. His motor runs hot, and he’s relentless in pursuit. Murphy displays good balance to maintain his footing when cut low by blockers. Unfortunately, Murphy doesn’t have much real game tape against NFL-caliber competition. His arm length falls below the 33-inch threshold, and he possesses limited bend and short-area agility. The reigning Ted Hendricks Award winner has room to improve his pad level and time the snap better. Murphy was physically dominant at the Division II level, but he entered the pre-draft process with limited technical refinement. He lacks a deep bag of pass rush moves and counters. Attempting to win with acceleration and speed often led Murphy too far upfield and out of the play. Offensive linemen occasionally torqued him out of rushing lanes. Murphy doesn’t consistently set a hard edge against the run. Sometimes he collapses too far inside and opens outside rush lanes. Linemen had some success sealing him inside or outside on run plays. Murphy lacks the agility, awareness, and instincts to play off-ball linebacker in the NFL.
Grade:
6th Round
Background:
Originally from Dowagiac, Michigan. Attended Dowagiac High School. Began his college career at Grand Valley State University. Decided to redshirt his first year. Transferred to Ferris State University. He did not play in 2020 because the season was canceled. As a junior, played in fourteen games, totaling sixty-three tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 21.5 tackles for loss. Had a fantastic senior year, totaling ninety-three tackles, 25.5 sacks, and thirty-nine tackles for loss. Received the 2022 Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the best defensive end in college football.
