Auburn linebacker Chris Murray is positioning himself for a vital role as the team gears up for its season opener against Baylor on September 5. Following an injury to teammate JJ Faulk during preseason camp, Murray has emerged as a leading candidate for significant playing time alongside Da'Shawn Womack and Jared Smith.
Coach Alex Golesh praised Murray's recent performance, highlighting his impressive recovery after missing the first week and a half of camp. Golesh remarked, "He's been phenomenal here the last week... He's competing to be one of the two, and these next two days are really, really big for him."
Murray's football career began at TCU in 2021, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Sam Houston State for 2023 and 2024. He joined Auburn prior to the 2025 season, recording 15 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss in his first year with the Tigers.
In March, he received a waiver from the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, which allowed him to join the team late in spring practice.
Murray expressed his desire to mentor younger teammates, stating, "I think the biggest blessing for me is that I'm an older guy. I'm a little more experienced with certain things... I can teach these young guys how to move, how to maneuver." As Auburn approaches its upcoming scrimmage, the team is finalizing its lineup for the opener against Baylor.
