Frank Murphy (American football)
Encyclopedia
Frank Murphy is a gridiron football
wide receiver
who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Storm
of the Arena Football League
. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears
in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
. He played college football
for the Kansas State Wildcats
.
Murphy has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Houston Texans
, Miami Dolphins
, Toronto Argonauts
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and Florida Tuskers.
n, All-State and Nassau County
Player of the Year as a senior
running back
and return specialist at West Nassau High School.
. He transferred to Garden City Community College
in 1996 and sat out the season as a transfer. In 1997, he was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association
All-American first-team and National Player of the Year.
Transferring to Kansas State University
in 1998, he appeared in the Wildcats final eight games as a reserve tailback
, recording 257 yards and five touchdowns on 55 carries, three catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, and returned eight kickoffs for 210 yards. In 1999, he finished second on the Wildcats with 541 yards and six touchdowns on 97 carries primarily as a backup running back, caught six passes for 39 yards, and 199 yards on seven kickoff returns.
by the Chicago Bears
and released by Chicago in August.
and made his NFL debut on December 3, 2000 returning two kickoff
s for 24 yards against the Dallas Cowboys
. In 2001, he dressed in 11 games for Tampa Bay with 8 catches for 71 yards and 1 touchdown and he led the Buccaneers with 20 kick returns for 445 yards and recorded two defensive tackles.
In the first pre-season game of the 2002 NFL Season
on August 12, Murphy returned the opening kickoff against the Miami Dolphins
for a 95-yard touchdown. It was the very first play in live action for the reign of Jon Gruden
as the Buccaneers' Head Coach
. Despite this, Murphy was subsequently released by Tampa Bay during final cuts.
on November 27, 2002, dressing in five games for the Texans and recorded 8 special teams tackles and 1 kickoff return.
Murphy was released by the Texans following training camp in 2003 and spent the rest of the year out of football.
in 2006 but was waived prior to the regular season.
on June 10, 2007 and dressed for 16 games recording 37 catches for 614 yards and 3 touchdowns making him the Argos’ third-leading receiver that year.
in exchange for running back
Anthony Davis
on December 18, 2007.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
.
Murphy has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
and Florida Tuskers.
Early years
Murphy was an All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n, All-State and Nassau County
Nassau County, Florida
Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 57,663. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida....
Player of the Year as a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and return specialist at West Nassau High School.
College career
In 1995, Murphy played wide receiver for Itawamba Community CollegeItawamba Community College
Itawamba Community College, formerly known as Itawamba Junior College, is a community college in Mississippi, United States, with two campuses; the main campus is located in Fulton, and a branch campus in Tupelo that mainly handles technical education programs. It serves Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee,...
. He transferred to Garden City Community College
Garden City Community College
Garden City Community College is a fully accredited community college located in Garden City, Kansas, USA. GCCC has regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
in 1996 and sat out the season as a transfer. In 1997, he was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
All-American first-team and National Player of the Year.
Transferring to Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in 1998, he appeared in the Wildcats final eight games as a reserve tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
, recording 257 yards and five touchdowns on 55 carries, three catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, and returned eight kickoffs for 210 yards. In 1999, he finished second on the Wildcats with 541 yards and six touchdowns on 97 carries primarily as a backup running back, caught six passes for 39 yards, and 199 yards on seven kickoff returns.
Chicago Bears
Murphy was selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and released by Chicago in August.
First stint with Buccaneers
Murphy subsequently signed to the practice squad with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and made his NFL debut on December 3, 2000 returning two kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
s for 24 yards against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. In 2001, he dressed in 11 games for Tampa Bay with 8 catches for 71 yards and 1 touchdown and he led the Buccaneers with 20 kick returns for 445 yards and recorded two defensive tackles.
In the first pre-season game of the 2002 NFL Season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
on August 12, Murphy returned the opening kickoff against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for a 95-yard touchdown. It was the very first play in live action for the reign of Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
as the Buccaneers' Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. Despite this, Murphy was subsequently released by Tampa Bay during final cuts.
Houston Texans
Murphy signed as a free agent with the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 27, 2002, dressing in five games for the Texans and recorded 8 special teams tackles and 1 kickoff return.
Murphy was released by the Texans following training camp in 2003 and spent the rest of the year out of football.
Second stint with Buccaneers
Murphy re-signed ith the Buccaneers as a free agent in 2004. He played in three games with the Bucs in 2004 as a backup receiver and special teams player before suffering a season-ending injury. He was released prior to the 2005 season.Miami Dolphins
Murphy signed with the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2006 but was waived prior to the regular season.
First stint with Argonauts
Murphy signed as a free agent with the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
on June 10, 2007 and dressed for 16 games recording 37 catches for 614 yards and 3 touchdowns making him the Argos’ third-leading receiver that year.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Murphy was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
in exchange for running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis (Canadian football running back)
Anthony Davis is a running back in the Canadian Football League. Davis was born in Plainfield, New Jersey and attended the University of Wisconsin where he played football for four years...
on December 18, 2007.