Ex-Texas QB Maalik Murphy transferring to Duke, sources say - ESPN

Former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy has committed to transfer to Duke, sources told ESPN.

Murphy's commitment is expected to formally emerge in the next 24 hours, sources said. Murphy's pledge will give Duke and first-year coach Manny Diaz a linchpin building block, as Murphy emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the NCAA transfer portal this off-season.

Murphy is a 6-foot-5, 238-pound redshirt freshman who brings high-end arm talent to the position. He'll be immediately eligible and has three seasons remaining.

Murphy, ESPN's No. 250 overall player in the Class of 2022, is the highest ranked quarterback and sixth highest-ranked overall player that Duke football has got a commitment from since ESPN began ranking players in 2006, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Murphy won both of the games he started for Texas this season as a redshirt freshman, beating both BYU and Kansas State. Murphy threw for 477 yards and three touchdowns on the season, as he served as Texas's primary back-up behind Quinn Ewers and ahead of freshman Arch Manning.

In speaking to ESPN the night he entered the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 13, Murphy said that he prioritized opportunity at his next destination.

«A place where I can play,» he told ESPN last week when asked what he's looking for in a school. «Continue to get better and continue to be around great people and great players. And just do what's best for me and my career.»

Duke's starting job opened up when star quarterback Riley Leonard decided to commit to Notre Dame. Leonard entered the NCAA transfer portal soon after coach Mike Elko took the Texas A&M job.

If Murphy returned to Texas, he'd have likely continued to back up Ewers, who has yet to declare he's returning