Red Murdock

● Mid-cut athlete with muscular upper body and lean lower half ● Fast-flowing mover who makes a ton of plays in enemy territory ● Understands football geometry and finds the best angles to the ball ● Plays with widescreen vision to quickly recognize play design ● Explosive striker; attacks contact with violent intentions ● Needed just three years to force an FBS-record 17 fumbles ● Big hands and strong grip to finish tackles ● Well-prepared player, which allows him to play fast and cover ground ● Team captain and loves to uplift his teammates ● Durable — didn’t miss a game over past three seasons (also played on punt coverages) ● Remarkable production (ninth in school history to surpass 350 career tackles)

● Doesn’t have ideal arm length for the position ● Can be eaten up by blockers and washed when he doesn’t trigger in time ● Will be tougher to recover in NFL after false steps versus play action and misdirection ● Tightness in core, which shows in his change of direction ● Will need to build confidence that he can survive on an island in coverage ● Most of production came versus opponents who won’t be playing professionally 473 Back to table of contents -- 477 of 629 -- ● Played 2025 season through torn ligaments in right ankle and fracture in his heel, which sidelined him for Shrine Bowl and NFL combine

A starter for two-and-a-half years at Buffalo, Murdock played a stack linebacker role in defensive coordinator Brian Dougherty’s 4-2-5 base scheme. He developed into an All-American for the Bulls, with rare production across multiple categories. He needed just 34 games to set the FBS record with 17 forced fumbles, breaking Khalil Mack’s previous mark (16 in 46 games). Over the past two seasons, he combined for 298 tackles (44 more than anyone else at the FBS level). No need to know his number when watching film — Murdock is the guy always around the ball. He is still developing his instincts but drives on the football with a determined, attacking mindset to get through traffic. He does a nice job finding his balance as a one-on-one tackler without stopping his feet, which allows him to explode into ball carriers. Overall, Murdock is inconsistent as a space player, but he is a magnet to the football and plays with a physicality that will get the job done in the NFL. There is a place in the league for his competitive toughness and playmaking ability.