Oklahoma Sooners Football: LB Kenneth Murray selected No. 23 overall by Los Angeles Chargers

With the No. 23 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Oklahoma Sooners LB Kenneth Murray has been selected No. overall by the Los Angeles Chargers!

Murray has always been an imposing physical force, but his strengths weren’t always properly utilized. After suffering his fair share of growing pains for two seasons at MIKE LB in Mike Stoops’ defense, the Missouri City, Texas native caught a positive career break when Alex Grinch took over as DC following the 2018 season. The new scheme allowed him to be much more aggressive and make more plays in the backfield, which was a sight for sore eyes throughout Sooner Nation.

In his junior year under the tutelage of new inside linebackers coach Brian Odom, Murray ascended his game from known athletic wonder to second-team AFCA All-American, third-team AP All-American, first team-Big 12 All-American, as well as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He finished his three-year career with 335 tackles and 37 tackles for loss, — tied for 11th in school history in career tackles (ninth among linebackers) — and ranks eighth at OU in career sacks by a linebacker with 9.5. Murray also leaves the University of Oklahoma with the record of tackles in a game, as he blasted past familiar names like Brian Bosworth and Jackie Shipp while recording 28 tackles against Army.