JONESBORO -- Marcel Murray's voice won't speak for him.
Arkansas State University's bruising running back does not say much. Reserved and soft-spoken, the 5-foot-11, 197-pound freshman doesn't shy away from being more vocal because he's a rookie just weeks his first season at ASU, but because that's his natural demeanor.
"I'm quiet around the team. I really don't talk that much," Murray said. "People know me as a versatile player."
ASU's coaching staff needed one play to discover its newest offensive weapon.
"First scrimmage," ASU offensive coordinator Buster Faulker said. "First time we got in a true tackle, live situation. In a lot of the drill work, you saw this kid makes people miss."
ASU Coach Blake Anderson said Murray continues to make a smooth transition to college football.
"We obviously loved him in the recruiting process," Anderson said. "To have him come in and just look comfortable so quickly is rare, I think. Not all freshmen can do that."
During that first Red Wolves' scrimmage, Murray's initial carry brought him near an incoming safety who attempted to wrestle Murray down.
Murray made him miss.
"I think I'm a balanced back," Murray said. "I think I can juke you out and run through you."
Murray, who Anderson said has a "tremendously physical" running style, is the Red Wolves' second-most productive offensive player (70.3 all-purpose yards per game) after the first three weeks of the season
Murray finished off a 67-yard receiving score Sept. 1 in ASU's season-opening 48-21 blowout victory against Southeast Missouri State and brushed off two tacklers to cash in a 3-yard rushing touchdown -- ASU's first on the ground this season -- Saturday at Tulsa.
A 2-star prospect from Hiram, Ga., and a member of a three-man backfield, the Red Wolves' third-string tailback has thrust himself into a pool of tailbacks where carries are limited.
"He's definitely a guy that I think has a tremendous future ahead of him," Anderson said. "I would say very quickly -- the first week -- you felt like, 'Hey, he doesn't act like a freshman.' He understands what we're doing."
Two seniors, Warren Wand (32-153 yards) and Armond Weh-Weh (27-136), have combined for 289 yards on 59 of ASU's 119 carries. Murray, with 124 yards on 26 rushes, narrowly trails them.
Running backs coach Norval McKenzie has identified and assigned offensive packages for each of the running backs to create the split in carries.
"Everybody wants the ball, but you don't see it in terms of resentment," Anderson said.
Not being the primary tailback is new to Murray. Winning is, too.
In high school, Murray logged more than 2,300 yards and 35 touchdown at Hiram, a program without a winning season since 2010.
"He runs hard. He's explosive. He breaks tackles. He's got great vision," Faulkner said. "He adds something to the offense. We've got three really good backs ... That's how you win games."
Sports on 09/21/2018