Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray will serve a 1-game suspension this season over recruiting violations.
Murray is said to have impermissibly contacted 17 prospects and their families over a 16-month period, according to the Division I Committee on Infractions. Head coach Brent Venables will not suffer any sanctions for the violations, but OU will go on probation for 1 year as part of the agreement.
The enforcement staff and school agreed that OU promptly disclosed the violations when they were detected and completed a thorough review of the conduct. The Sooners self-imposed recruiting penalties for Murray as the case was processed, which included a 20% reduction in recruiting days during the spring of 2023, a reduction in Murray’s recruiting days from 16 down to 8 in 2023, and a prohibition from off-campus recruiting for Murray during the fall evaluation period last year.
OU will also face a 3-week ban on phone and electronic correspondence to be served from Dec. 8, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The school will also not be allowed unofficial visits for the season opener against Temple on Aug. 30.
The enforcement staff determined OU’s compliance department had adequate monitoring systems for phone conversations. It was also determined that Venables promoted an atmosphere of compliance and monitored his staff.
Murray was hired in 2020 as the Sooners’ running backs coach and has been a valuable assistant on the recruiting trail ever since. He was influential in the 2024 recruitment of Longview (Texas) High tailback Taylor Tatum, the No. 1 running back in the class who signed with OU over USC.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
