Los Angeles Chargers Select Kenneth Murray With No. 23 Pick in NFL Draft

The Chargers take Oklahoma Sooners LB Kenneth Murray with the No. 23 overall pick, after trading up with Patriots.

The Chargers selected LB Oklahoma with the No. 23 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. A Lone Star State native, Murray attended Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas. Murray was a star for the Tigers and was heavily recruited after recording 104 tackles, four sacks, six passes defended and one forced fumble as a senior. Texas, Michigan and Baylor were all in the mix before he committed to the Sooners.

Murray entered the draft after playing 42 games over three seasons at Oklahoma. Competing in the high-octane Big 12 Conference, Murray is battle tested and projects as a three-down starter in the NFL. When asked what a team gets if they select him, Murray said, “They're getting a straight dog. A killer. That's really as simple as I can put it.” While using “killer” may not be the best choice of words, it does show the physicality and mentality Murray brings to the game.

Murray shared the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award with DT Ross Blacklock (TCU) during his first season in 2017. Dishing out a lot of hits, Murray posted 155 tackles (71 solo) during his sophomore season. Assists dropped and he finished with 102 tackles (69 solo) during his junior year. With good size and speed, Murray flies all over the field with a non-stop motor. It’s odd that Murray didn’t have any interceptions over three years as a Sooner.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Murray as the No. 21 overall player on his big board:

With sideline-to-sideline range and a high motor, Murray has been a tackling machine for the Sooners, with more than 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons and 17 tackles for loss in 2019. He ran a 4.52 time in the 40-yard dash and posted a 38-inch vertical jump at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine,

2019 stats (Junior; Oklahoma): 69 solo tackles, 102 total tackles, 4 sacks (14 games)

2018 stats (Sophomore; Oklahoma): 71 solo tackles, 155 total tackles, 4.5 sacks (14 games)

2017 stats (Freshman; Oklahoma): 36 solo tackles, 68 total tackles, one sack (14 games)

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