DeMarco Murray Chosen Again as Coach Candidate for Penn State

Norman, Okla. — DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma‘s running backs coach, is reportedly under consideration for the same position at Penn State for the second consecutive year. The announcement comes shortly after Murray was looked at for a role at Ohio State last year. His continued appeal to collegiate programs highlights his growing reputation in the coaching ranks.

On Tuesday, multiple sources confirmed that Murray’s name is in contention for the open running backs coach position at Penn State. This development coincides with a successful tenure at Oklahoma, where he helped increase his salary from $500,000 to $575,000 annually after last year’s inquiries from Ohio State.

“DeMarco has been in high demand,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables stated in July, signifying Murray’s rising prominence in college football coaching. Murray’s past accolades include being named the AP Offensive Player of the Year and winning an NFL rushing title during his playing career.

After a year in broadcasting post-NFL, Murray transitioned to coaching with Arizona in 2019, before returning to Oklahoma in 2020 under then-coach Lincoln Riley. Since Venables took over the program in 2022, Murray has continued to develop talent, mentoring players such as Eric Gray, who now plays for the New York Giants, and Rhamondre Stevenson, the leading rusher for the New England Patriots.

Despite a notable coaching pedigree, Murray has faced challenges identifying a lead running back in each of the last two seasons. The team’s running back unit experienced inconsistencies in 2024, exacerbated by an inexperienced offensive line and injuries within the wide receiving corps.

In recruiting, Murray made headlines last year by signing the nation’s top running back, Taylor Tatum, who finished third on the team with 278 yards and three touchdowns. He also attracted Xavier Robinson, the top running back in Oklahoma, who managed to secure four touchdowns despite limited playtime. Furthermore, Murray has recently added 4-star recruit Tory Blaylock from Humble, Texas, to the 2025 recruiting class.

However, as of now, he does not have any commitments in the running back position for the 2026 class or beyond, which may be a concern for the Sooners as they head into future seasons.