In a spring filled with competition and change, Rashan Murray has sprouted onto the scene inside the walls of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The former Division II standout is making his presence impossible to ignore.
“Rashan Murray started out today with a one-handed interception,” head coach Pat Narduzzi said with a grin after a recent spring practice. That wasn’t the only splash play the Pitt transfer made. From day one, Murray has looked like he belongs.
The 6-foot-2 corner with elite ball skills transferred to Pitt in January after a breakout junior season at California University of Pennsylvania. Making the leap from D-II to the ACC is no small task, but based on Pitt's spring practices Murray may be more than just a depth piece in Pitt’s new secondary, he could be a real contributor.
The journey back home for Murray has been anything but linear. As a former star at University Prep. His recruiting out of High School was derailed by COVID-19. With limited exposure and fewer scouting opportunities during the 2020 and 2021 cycles caused him to slide through the Division I cracks. “It was tough, man,” Murray told reporters earlier this spring. “I know what I could do. But when you can’t get in front of coaches, you don’t get the same chance.”
He originally committed to Akron but went on to Cal U(PA) instead, betting on himself and staying local in one of the best Division II conferences in the nation. Three years later, that gamble has began to pay off. Murray blossomed into one of the top defensive backs in all of Division II football during his time as a Vulcan, finishing fourth in the nation last season with 14 passes defended to go along with four interceptions, one sealed a playoff victory over Ashland University.
He earned All-American recognition from both the AP and Don Hansen Committee and was named both First Team All-PSAC and All-Region. After he entered the transfer portal in December the offers came quickly from schools across the MAC, Conference USA, and FCS. But when his hometown Panthers came calling, the decision was easy. “Who wouldn’t want to play for their hometown team?” Murray said. “It feels great. It’s full circle for me.”
Despite joining a room with returning veterans like Tamon Lynum and Rashad Battle, and a wave of incoming talent, Murray hasn’t just held his own but he has impressed. His long frame, physicality, and ball-tracking skills have translated well to Pitt’s defensive scheme.
With departures in the secondary like Ryland Gandy and Noah Biglow who both hit the portal shortly after last season opportunity is up for grabs. While Lynum and Battle are likely to begin the season atop the depth chart their spots are not set in stone, Murray is positioning himself as a legitimate contender for significant snaps, especially in sub-packages.
“You watch him out there,” Coach Narduzzi said, “and you forget he came from Division II.”
Unfortunately Murray did miss the spring game last week due to injury. Head coach Pat Narduzzi addressed the situation a day prior on April 11th. “Rashan Murray, a little bit banged up,” Narduzzi said. “I just saw him coming out of the indoor. Hopefully he's probable, as you saw from the depth chart yesterday.” later stating "We're happy with him, so we're good there."
With one year of eligibility left, he’s already made it clear this spring that he’s not just here to be on the roster. “This isn’t just a step up in competition,” Murray said. “It’s a step toward proving to myself, and to everybody watching, that I can do this. I belong here.”