Connor Murphy Commits to USC Football on Signing Day

Connor Murphy committed to USC football’s class of 2016 on Signing Day, bolstering the Trojans’ defensive line haul.

Brophy College Prep defensive end Connor Murphy chose USC on Signing Day Wednesday, opting for the California move over Michigan, Alabama, Oregon and the hometown ASU Sun Devils.

That makes him the 16th commit for USC in the class of 2016 as Signing Day rolls on. Here’s a look at the new Trojan:

Connor Murphy | Defensive Tackle

Height: 6-7  Weight: 250

Scout’s Take: There’s no getting around Murphy’s physical stature. At 6-foot-7 he is a tower on the defensive side of the ball. Adding the requisite strength and speed necessary to thrive on the front lines, he makes for a mouthwatering prospect.

The big question is whether or not he can polish his technique enough to make an impact when he’s not always the most physically dominant player on the field.

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Murphy is one of the top recruits in Arizona this year, but his positional and national rankings vary widely between the recruiting services. Scout likes him as the 27th best defensive end in the class while ESPN rates him 58th.

Rivals and 247Sports, who both rank him specifically as a weakside defensive end, set him as the 15th and 16th prospect at his position respectively.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

Impact: USC lost five defensive lineman to graduation after the 2015 season including all three starters on the defensive line. Even though the 2015 recruiting class was full of line talent, numbers remain a concern.

Murphy may not be refined enough to step right into the line up, but he has the potential to provide a major boost for the unit which is still searching for impact players for right now and the future.

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