Former UCF Great and NFL Pro Bowl Running Back Latavius Murray Joins Titusville High Coaching Staff

Latavius Murray played ten seasons in the NFL

BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – Titusville native Latavius Murray is joining the Titusville Terriers coaching staff as the running back coach and running game coordinator.

Murray’s knowledge of the game, gained from his success as a running back in college and the NFL, will be key in helping the Terriers retain their rushing prowess.

The Titusville native is headed back to where his journey started. Murray started playing youth football in Titusville, and his talent was evident.

He spent his high school years at Onondaga Central in New York, where he was named the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior year.

Murray was ranked as the No. 5 prospect in New York, holding offers from major Division I programs. Ultimately, he decided to come back closer to home and play collegiately at the University of Central Florida.

During his time with the Knights, Murray was phenomenal. He spent all four years at UCF, accounting for 2,424 yards and 44 touchdowns, which puts him in the record books as not just one of the best running backs to ever play at Central Florida, but one of the best players to ever suit up for them.

He had successful seasons as a sophomore and junior, but put his name on the map as a senior, rushing for over 1,100 yards. Murray was inducted into the University of Central Florida Hall of Fame in 2022.

Concluding his senior season, Murray was selected with the 181st pick in the 2013 draft by the Oakland Raiders. Being selected in the sixth round, he had a lot to prove before warranting any playing time, especially backing up talented backs like Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew.

Before his rookie season could get underway, he was placed on injured reserve and would not see the field until 2014.

Although he was the third string, Murray would burst onto the scene in his sophomore season and earn the starting running back role by the season’s end. He would finish the year with 424 yards on 82 carries with two touchdowns.

As a full-time starter since 2015, Murray shone rushing for over 1,000 yards and made the NFL Pro Bowl. In 2016, he was solid as well, rushing for 788 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In 2017, Murray joined the Minnesota Vikings and was prepared to share carries with Dalvin Cook, but with Cook tearing his ACL, that left carries for Murray.

He finished his first season as a Viking with 842 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2018, his numbers took a step back as Dalvin Cook looked to be the primary back, but that did not stop Murray from producing, as he still ran for nearly 600 yards on the season.

After two quick seasons in Minnesota, Murray would sign a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. In 2019 and 2020, Murray would still provide a spark, rushing for 1,293 yards and 11 total touchdowns over the two seasons with the Saints.

In 2021, Murray signed a deal with the Baltimore Ravens after all their running backs faced season-ending injuries. He once again showed his reliability, rushing for 500 yards and six touchdowns.

Right after they released him, the Saints would re-sign Murray to their practice squad and feature him in one game. His time in New Orleans would be short-lived in 2022 as the Denver Broncos picked him up.

No matter where Murray goes, he produces, appearing in 13 games for the Broncos, he rushed for 760 yards on 171 carries and six touchdowns.

In the offseason, Murray would sign with the Buffalo Bills and prove he could still go. As the oldest active running back, he was featured in all 16 games and started four. Finishing the year with 300 yards and four touchdowns.

After the 2023 season, Murray would retire from the NFL. In his ten seasons in the league, he rushed for 6,552 yards and 59 touchdowns to go along with 1,620 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

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