Senior running back Richard Murphy recorded another quiet performance Saturday against Arkansas, rushing twice for 9 yards.
The fifth-year player’s final season hasn’t lived up to preseason expectations, when most thought he would share the load with junior running back Stevan Ridley.
Murphy’s 23 carries for 82 yards and zero touchdowns this season haven’t provided a storybook ending to his college career, but he may have another season to cement his legacy as a Tiger.
The Rayville native said he is appealing the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.
“I’m just going about it like it didn’t happen and playing like it’s my last season,” Murphy said. “I should find out soon.”
Murphy’s season was cut short last year after a knee injury in LSU’s second game of the season against Vanderbilt. He was also forced to redshirt his freshman year after trying to get approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Murphy saw time his redshirt freshman season with 230 yards and two touchdowns. He remained a backup during his sophomore campaign and earned 186 yards on 44 carries.
“My career has been successful,” Murphy said. “Without the injuries, other than that, it’s been a pretty good five years.”
The NCAA Division I Manual says a waiver is granted to give a student-athlete the chance to play four seasons within a five-year period.
“This waiver may be granted, based upon objective evidence, for reasons that are beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution that deprive the student-athlete of the opportunity to participate for more than one season in his sport within a five-year period,” the rule states.
A similar situation occurred with Kent State running back Eugene Jarvis before this season. Jarvis was forced to take a redshirt as a freshman in 2005 after the NCAA didn’t clear him academically until after the midpoint of the season.
The running back missed all but two games of his senior season with a lacerated kidney. The NCAA approved his request for a sixth season.
Former LSU defensive linemen Kirston Pittman and Charles Alexander are the most recent Tigers to gain a sixth season.
“I welcome a sixth year with Richard Murphy,” said LSU coach Les Miles.
Redshirt freshman running back Michael Ford emerged as Ridley’s main backup during the second half of this season while Murphy has been limited to third-down carries.
“My role is basically the third-down back and mentoring the young guys,” Murphy said. “Third down is the money down. I try to take advantage of my opportunities.”
Instead of being the feature back busting through the line of scrimmage, the veteran has been creating the holes for the younger running backs.
“Murphy is a great back,” said junior guard T-Bob Hebert. “He brings not only leadership to the team, but if you watch his highlights on his pass blocking, he absolutely annihilates people.”
Murphy also influences the team as a leader, wearing the No. 18 jersey, which is given to the player who best represents what it means to be a Tiger.
“I love blocking,” Murphy said. “You really don’t see a running back that really wants to block.”
Former LSU quarterback Matt Mauck, running back Jacob Hester and tight end Richard Dickson donned the sacred jersey in past seasons.
“He’s a great leader in our program,” Miles said. “The opportunities that we have to get him the ball, certainly we want that to happen for him, but when he doesn’t have the ball, he plays big for us.”
Ford welcomes another year from one of the offensive leaders.
“He brings a teaching aspect,” Ford said. “He may not run the ball a lot, but he knows a lot about the game.”
If the NCAA doesn’t grant Murphy another season, the running back said he will still seek his dream of playing in the NFL.
“I’m going to try to go to the NFL and continue my role as a third-down back,” Murphy said.
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]