As good as college and NFL scouts may be, players do get overlooked.
Veteran running back Latavius Murray is perfect example, as he reminded his Instagram followers while announcing his retirement from the league on Thursday.
‘They never saw a pro in me but 11 years later, I showed what a pro really looks like!’ wrote Murray alongside his personal highlight reel stretching from his days at Central Florida through his decade-long NFL career.
Despite a career that included several years as a starter and one Pro Bowl nod in 2015, Murray’s opportunities were dwindling and he spent the last two seasons languishing on the free-agent market. His last carry came for the Buffalo Bills on New Year’s Eve in 2023.
The 35-year-old was the New York state Gatorade Football Player of the Year in 2007 while playing at Onondaga Central outside Syracuse. But outside of the Orange, Boston College Eagles, Maryland Terrapins and UCF Knights, major schools didn’t show much interest.
Murray went with UCF and spent three of his next four seasons battling injuries and splitting carries before breaking out as a senior in 2012. Not only did he rush for 1,106 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final college season, but he added another 231 yards and four scores on 27 receptions.
View this post on Instagram
Murray hadn’t officially retired despite languishing on the free-agent market since 2024
The disrespect didn’t end in college, though, and Murray slid to the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, where he was picked by the Oakland Raiders – the first of his six teams.
In total, 24 running backs were taken in that draft, but Murray’s 6,552 career rushing yards are greater than all but Le’Veon Bell’s 6,554. What’s more, Murray had 59 career touchdowns compared to Bell’s 42, likely due to his durability and reliability,
Outside of his rookie season, which he spent on Injured Reserve, Murray remained one of the league’s most durable running backs over the last decade.
In 2015, while rushing a career-high 266 times, he reached the 1,000-yard plateau mark for the first and only time in the NFL.
Murray first made a name for himself at UCF before becoming a sixth-round draft pick
Murray played for six NFL teams, including two separate stints with the New Orleans Saints
Murray would go on to play with the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and two stints with the New Orleans Saints.
‘A true professional in every sense of the word,’ one fan wrote on Instagram. ‘Someone who brought presence and respect to every interaction. It never mattered if you owned the team or took out the trash.
‘He treated everyone with the same appreciation, knowing that every role matters. Keep being that driven and thoughtful leader. This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning. Congrats on an unreal career my dawg!’
Murray’s post-NFL career prospects are looking strong. Not only does the married father of four have a bachelor’s degree from UCF, but he’s earned his MBA from Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
In total, Murray earned more than $22 million in NFL salary despite being initially overlooked at both the college and professional levels.
