STARKVILLE — Former West Point product and Mississippi State safety Marcus Murphy is heading to the NFL.
Murphy, who previously opted out of the season on Nov. 12, announced his decision to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2021 NFL Draft Friday afternoon in a lengthy Twitter post.
“While I will always cherish the years that I spent playing football with my brothers at Mississippi State University for the greatest fans in college football, I have decided to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft,” he wrote.
A former three-star recruit in the class of 2018, the former West Point quarterback switched from under center to the secondary upon his arrival in Starkville. In 16 career games, Murphy totaled 67 tackles and two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Earlier this year, he discussed the possibility of opting out of the season over COVID-19 concerns due to his son Mason, who is battling a rare genetic abnormality.
“On the opting out deal, I mean it was a concern but then again I love football and I love him,” he said in September. “It’s got to go hand in hand in how I balance that out or whatever. I know whenever he’s older he’s going to ask me, ‘Dad, what’d you do during this pandemic?’ or ‘How did you handle this pandemic?’ It all comes down to making sacrifices. It’s just what I had to do — making sacrifices to be around my teammates and going back home to be there for him.”
Murphy is one of a slew of MSU players to have opted out or left the team during the 2020 campaign. Others who have departed during the season include starting running back and Columbus product Kylin Hill, Alabama transfer Tyrell Shavers and one-time Michigan running back Kareem Walker.
MSU is scheduled to take the field Saturday against Auburn in a game that was rescheduled from Nov. 14. The Bulldogs, currently sitting at 2-6, will close their season next week with a home matchup against Missouri.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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