Jerome Murphy – Cornerback – South Florida
Height: 6-0¼ | Weight: 196 | 40-Time: 4.52
Strengths:
Ideal height and bulk — Excellent athleticism — Good speed and acceleration with a burst — Transitions well thanks to fluid hips and quick feet — Is tough and physical — Gets a great jam at the line — A willing and able tackler — Does a fantastic job against the run — Nice instincts and awareness — Soft hands — Decent ball skills — Terrific leaping ability — Competitive — Confident — Durable — Experienced.
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent — Gambles and can be too aggressive at times — Allows too much separation — Backpedal needs to be refined — Has some trouble with big wideouts — Maturity Issues and Character Concerns.
Notes:
Was a two-year starter for the Bulls — Played behind future pros Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams early in his career — Named 2nd Team All-Big East in 2008 — Holds the USF school record for most games played in a career — Served a suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules in 2009 — Was actually benched at one point in 2009 for poor play — Saw action at safety in college and could conceivably project to the position in the pros as well — Has all of the physical tools to be a starter at the next level but needs to be more consistent and focused.
2009: Named to All-BIG EAST First Team by Phil Steele … Played and started all 13 games … Third on the team with 77 tackles and tied for the team lead with four interceptions … Also had eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … In his final collegiate game, reeled in an interception and recovered a fumble against Northern Illinois in the 2010 International Bowl … Recorded a season- high 14 tackles against Rutgers … Forced a fumble and intercepted a pass against Charleston Southern … Also intercepted a pass against Rutgers … Played in 52 career games, the most ever by a USF player.
2008: Played in 13 games, starting 11 … Ranked second on team with 67 tackles … Arguably the biggest hitter on the roster … Also second on the team with two interceptions and third with five pass breakups … Also contributed 3.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks … Single-game high8nine tackles in back-to-back games against Kansas and UCF … Recorded five or more tackles on eight occasions … A regular on kick returns early in the season, but was only kicked to on one occasion … Lone kick return of the season was for 38 yards against UT Martin.
2007: The Bulls’ top option at nickel back in 2007 … One of the team’s fastest players … Coaches love his play-making ability … Forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes during his first season of regular time … Also returns kicks for USF, averaging 24.3 yards per attempt … His longest return of the season was 59 yards against Auburn to set up the Bulls’ final score in regulation … Ended up 19 yards shy of breaking the USF single-season record for return years … Piled up 560 yards on 23 kickoff returns … Broke the century mark for return yards against Auburn (111) and UConn (121) … Also returned two punts … Single-game high for tackles was seven against West Virginia … Also forced a fumble against the Mountaineers … Five pass breakups … Forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the game against Cincinnati that led to a three-yard touchdown by Nate Allen.
2006: 20 tackles and a fumble recovery in 13 games … Season-high five tackles came in season opener vs. McNeese State … Fumble recovery came vs. Syracuse.
2005: Utilized his redshirt season.
ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL: Second team all-state … All-county … 89 tackles and eight interceptions as a senior … 580 receiving yards with seven touchdowns … Also had one defensive touchdown … Played basketball and ran track … Coached by Geoffrey Weiner … His high school defensive coordinator – Jamil Jackson – played for current USF assistant coach Rich Rachel at Rutgers.
PERSONAL: Born January 13, 1987 in Elizabeth, N.J. … Son of Lorraine Murphy and Douglas Lee … Has an older brother, Kieon … Majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences.