Photo taken by the San Diego Fleet.
Behind Syracuse University’s stunning 27-24 victory against the #2 Clemson Tigers in 2017 was the leg of Cole Murphy, who’s 4th quarter 30-yard field goal helped seal one of the greatest wins in school history.
But nearly as surprising as Syracuse’s upset win against Clemson was when Murphy, a two-time Lou Groza semi-finalist (an award given annually to college football’s best kicker), didn’t receive a tryout from any of the 32 NFL teams following the conclusion of the 2018 NFL draft.
However, it didn't take long for San Diego Fleet GM Dave Boller, formerly with the Syracuse staff, to reach out to the Southern California native and offer Murphy a shot. We caught up with Murphy to see he’s enjoying his time with the Fleet, why he thinks the AAF is special, and much more!
After finishing your career with Syracuse in 2017, what were you doing after graduation and how did you ultimately sign with the Fleet?
“After leaving Syracuse last December, I moved back home to the Santa Clarita Valley in Southern California and started training for my Pro Day.
I started working out with my aunt, who was a world champion motocross racer and is now a personal trainer. I also started driving down to San Diego to kick with one of the best kickers in NFL history, John Carney.
After Pro Day, I was very confident that I would get a phone call to participate in an NFL or CFL training camp. Unfortunately, I never received a call and so I continued to train in the hope that I would get an opportunity at a later time. In late July, I got a call from Dave Boller, who was on the football staff at Syracuse and was the new GM of the San Diego Fleet. I was (and still am) extremely thankful for the phone call because it has allowed me to continue my pro football career and compete with many talented players and teams.”
How special is it to be a part of the AAF in its first year and why do you feel football fans should tune in?
“Being a part of the inaugural season for the AAF is very special. This league has a lot of fantastic ideas and technologies that are being used and I believe that they may ultimately change how the game and the league is structured. I think that the league is putting the fans first by limiting commercials, integrating a fantastic in-game betting experience and using new technologies that will give fans a whole new look at the sport.”
How has your experience with the Fleet organization been so far?
“My experience with the Fleet during minicamp and training camp has been fantastic. You can tell that the players and coaches are all here for the right reasons and we all have the same goals. We want to better the sport and give players a second chance at playing professional football.”
What are you most excited about heading into the season?
“I’m excited to get more game experience and continue my career. Not getting a call after the draft was difficult, but the AAF has given me more confidence and has helped me perform to the best of my ability.”
The kicking rules in the AAF are much different than the NFL and in college (no PAT’s or kickoffs) — does that change anything for how you prepare or practice?
“The new kicking rules are definitely interesting. More than anything, it makes the limited reps I get count even more. I may only get one or two chances in the game, so I need to be able to perform every single time I step on the field. Having said that, it also means that I can devote more time to perfecting my field goal technique instead of having to spend time on other things like kickoffs and punting.”
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