Post by The Cats on Aug 2, 2018 5:29:31 GMT -5
It's now 30 days until the kickoff of Catamount football on Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1, 2018, against the Newberry College Wolves, in Cullowhee.
For the season's kick-off game, the Cats will host a "White Out" in E.J. Whitmire Stadium as the Cats sport their all-white look, white Adidas jerseys over white pants; and for the fourth-straight year, a post game fireworks extravaganza.
To help pass those long summer days, and hopefully get the Catamount faithful more excited about the upcoming season, and knowledgeable of the team members, we'll continue the 100-day football countdown each day until kickoff day.
Today we'll highlight a defensive back
#30 Michael Murphy
Position: Defensive Back
Height/Weight: 6'2" 180
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
High School: Spartanburg HS
2017 (Redshirt Freshman): Saw action in all 12 of the team's games as a defensive substitution and on special teams ... Finished the year with 22 tackles including eight solo stops and two tackles for loss, one as a sack ... Had at least one tackle in every game ... Added a quarterback hurry and a pair of pass breakups ... Made his collegiate debut at Hawai'i (Sept. 2), tallying his first career tackle ... Recorded a career-high four tackles including a sack and a forced fumble in the road win over VMI (Oct. 21) ... Selected to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team by the league's head coach ... Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Forced a fumble and recorded a sack in WCU's annual Spring Game.
2016 (Freshman): Did not see game action ... Credited with two tackles including one for a four-yard loss in WCU's annual Spring Game.
Prior to Western Carolina: Was an All-Region II-4A selection and named second-team All-Herald-Journal/GoUpstate All-Area team ... Recorded 43 tackles with four interceptions and three pass breakups as a senior ... Was part of the 2014 South Carolina state championship team as a junior in 2014, finishing with 88 tackles and three interceptions from his safety position ... Was cited as one of the top 10 defensive backs at an EPT Football Skills Showcase prior to this senior year ... Listed as a two-star prospect from Rivals.com ... High school coach was Chris Miller ... Was a four-year starter in boy's basketball as a prep, earning MVP honors in 2014.
Personal: Full name is Michael Anthony Murphy Jr., and goes by "Mike" ... Is the son of Michael Sr. and Tamika Murphy ... Has two siblings, Malik and Mekhi.
Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations
