LB Murray wants to remain an example to teammates

Warriors standout beginning to explore recruitment options.

Mississauga Warriors Linebacker Scott Murray will maintain the physicality he is known for as fall ball approaches.

Scott Murray

Height/Weight:
6’2, 190 lbs

Positions:
Linebacker

Teams:
Mississauga Warriors (OVFL)
St. Marcellinus Spirit (high school: ROPSSAA)

Considerations:
Open

Official Visits:
None

Commitment:
None

Class:
2018

Scott Murray of the Mississauga Warriors of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and St. Marcellinus Spirit of the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) has been playing football since the age of seven.

Murray has been with the Warriors football club ever since he first signed up to play the sport and has grown a great deal under the program’s tutelage.

When Murray started to play football, he was attracted to physicality and playmaking abilities of the middle linebacker position. Since Murray started playing, he relies on his ability to read plays and react accordingly once the ball is snapped.

Through the years with Mississauga Warriors football, the team has come to know Murray’s dedication to the team, leadership, and skills. Realizing his ability to garner the respect from his peers, Murray was named as one of the captains for the Junior Varsity Warriors in 2016. This responsibility is something Murray takes seriously as he wanted to make sure his teammates and coaches placed their trust in the right individual.

“As a captain, I am expected to be an enforcer and make plays but I also have the responsibility to have a great attitude on the field and lead by example.”

Coming into the summer of 2016, it was important for this inexperienced group of Junior Varsity Warriors to have someone they could rely on to learn about some of the essential aspects of the game. This is the main reason why the Warriors’ linebacker made it his goal during the OVFL season to be a consistent playmaker on the field.

The presence of their defensive leader was never more evident in the team’s win against the Hamilton Ironmen. Aside from Warriors winning that game, Murray made a key play that later became the moment in which Murray felt was his most memorable from the past season.

“It was one of the first plays of the game and I made a huge hit on a player running a slant route. That really set the tone for the game.”

After the Warriors’ season came to a close, Murray was able to analyze what he had done well during the course of the season, and what he can work on during the off-season. With Murray playing snaps on offense as well, he felt that working on his mechanics for playing on both sides of the ball and improving his speed will be critical to moving forward into the fall season.

Overall, Scott feels that his summer experience playing football was essential to his growth as a player. Murray’s dedication to improving his football IQ has produced results on the field, as the multiple time Defensive Player of the Year award winner found it easier to make plays because he was more aware of what the opponent was trying to run.

“I feel like this past year I have grown a lot as an athlete and a student of the game. I have gotten a lot faster, more explosive, and expanded my knowledge of the game.”

Since the off-season began, Murray has taken virtually no breaks, as he has already started training with fellow Spirit teammates to get ready for fall football. Part of Murray’s training consists of weight lifting Monday to Friday and speed training every other day.

Often reflecting on accolades accomplished within his life, Scott is always able to recognize the contributions his parents have made for him. With the lessons they have been able to show their son, Murray’s parents are by far the most influential people within the linebacker’s life.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be the player or person I am today. They taught me all about character and integrity, and for that, I will always be grateful.”

As an individual who plays with much ferocity and tenacity, Murray admires the game of the Oakland Raiders’ rookie safety Karl Joseph. When watching Joseph play, it is simple. He will not hesitate to put his body on the line, as he is an extremely physical player.

“I admire him because he is a hard hitter and just a savage on the field,” says Murray.

Outside of football, Murray is committed to doing well in school so he can complete his goal of one day attending university after high school. With Murray showing strong interest in accounting and economics, the St. Marcellinus Spirit student would like to explore a career in business once he graduates.

2016 will be a big year for Scott. Murray will start looking more intently at schools and what they can offer academically and athletically. Murray also understands that universities will start paying him more attention now that he is in his varsity years with St. Marcellinus football. At the same time, Murray wants to continue his approach to the game and play with the same traits that have made him successful on the field.

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