Even though Maalik Murphy committed to play the 2024 college football season at Oregon State earlier this month, Iowa remained in hot pursuit of the former Duke quarterback. The Hawkeyes reportedly hoped to get him on campus for a visit after the new year.
This would not be possible if Murphy had signed his financial aid agreement with the Beavers but that was not yet the case as of Monday night. It seemed as though he is keeping his options open until the last-possible second.
UPDATE: MAALIK MURPHY HAS SIGNED HIS PAPERWORK WITH DUKE SO IOWA WHIFFED AGAIN.
Former Duke and Texas QB Maalik Murphy has now signed with Oregon State, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @CBSSports/@247Sports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 24, 2024
Murphy was Duke’s starting QB this season and threw for 2,933 yards and 26 touchdowns. pic.twitter.com/nHcaJSX8mE
Murphy, a former four-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2022, began his college football career with two years at Texas. An injury to Quinn Ewers forced him to start two games for the Longhorns in 2023 with a record of 2-0. He later transferred to Duke during the offseason.
The Blue Devils actually won nine games with Murphy as their starting quarterback for just the fourth time in program history but they still decided to squeeze him out after just one year.
It was a surprising move. Nobody foresaw Murphy’s second entry into the transfer portal and yet, come Dec. 9, there he was. Ripe for the taking.
10 days after his initial announcement, the rising redshirt junior announced his decision to play for Oregon State. Considering the current state of the Pac-12, it seems like a major downgrade.
Former Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy is transferring to Oregon State, he tells ESPN. Murphy is 11-3 as a starter the last two years at Duke and Texas. He went 9-3 as the Blue Devils starter this year and set the school record for TD passes with 26. pic.twitter.com/qF1gjMb7Pt
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 19, 2024
However, the commitment was in limbo! According to Pete Nakos, Maalik Murphy had not signed the required paperwork with the Beavers as of Tuesday morning. His transfer was not official.
Meanwhile, Iowa was desperately searching for another transfer quarterback to replace Cade McNamara. Jackson Stratton and Brendan Sullivan are not the answers. Auburn transfer Hank Brown is still young. Beau Pribula spurned the Hawkeyes for their bowl game opponent.
With Murphy still out there, Iowa reportedly wanted to host him for a visit to campus after the dead period ends on Jan. 5. It would’ve be a big get for a program that has a history of underwhelming quarterbacks but that will not happen. Murphy officially signed with Oregon State.