It comes as no surprise to me that Allen (Texas) quarterback Kyler Murray is Gatorade’s National Player of the Year. We’ve been enjoying Murray doing it all for the Eagles ever since he was a sophomore when led his school to our 2012 co-national championship with Louisiana’s John Curtis. Murray followed that up in 2013 with the outright High School Football America “mythical” national championship when he led Allen to its second straight Texas Class 5A Division I title.
There was no drop-off for Murray’s senior this year as he and his teammates are two wins away from a three-peat, both nationally and in Texas. The Eagles, who are currently ranked #1 in the latest High School Football America rankings, are 40-0 with Murray as their starter.
Murray’s numbers this year so far, 3,563 yards passing with 40 touchdowns and 1,291 yards rushing with 25 TDs. Off-the-field, in addition to donating his time as a youth football instructor, he has volunteered locally as part of the Reading with the Eagles youth literacy-outreach and anti-bullying programs. He also serves as a mentor to several student team managers with special needs.
Murray was honored by Gatorade Monday during a presentation in front of his teammates. He is the third Texan to win the prestigious award, joining Aledo‘s Jonathan Gray (2012) and Lake Travis‘ Garrett Gilbert (2008).
