USC offer huge for Murphy

Connor Murphy experienced a boom in his recruitment when his junior highlight tape got out and he began stacking scholarship offers.

After a month-long lull, the 6-foot-7, 240-pound defensive end from Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy Prep was back on the board Tuesday, picking up an offer from USC.

"It's definitely a huge offer I've been waiting for," Murphy said. "Coach (Peter) Sirmon has been talking to me for a while now and he's basically told me what every other coach has told me -- they want to use me in the 4-technique with my hand in the dirt.

"They want me to get after the quarterback and cause some havoc in the backfield for them. He told me I'm the exact mold of what they're looking for and they need hard-nosed guys just like me. He summed it up saying I'm going to be something special in college and he's really excited to see where I end up at."

The Trojans were the 12th program to offer the three-star prospect, joining the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and Vanderbilt. Murphy, the No. 17-rated weakside defensive end in the 2016 class according to Rivals.com, has only been to nearby Arizona State so he's got plenty to figure out still.

"I'm going to try to visit at least half the colleges that have offered me this summer," Murphy said. "I'm on spring break right now, so maybe I might be able to visit UCLA and USC before I go back to school. I'm not sure yet.

"There are three things I'm basing my decision on. First it's the family atmosphere and what the team bonding is like. The academics are important because there is life after football. Thirdly, it will be about who can help me reach my ultimate goal of playing in the NFL. Whichever college fits that mold will definitely help me narrow my decision."

Though he now holds offers from eight of the Pac-12 programs, there has been one school that has been on Murphy the most the last few months.

"It's still ASU," Murphy said. "They're in my backyard and they want to make me the hometown hero, so they're definitely after me the hardest right now. They've set the bar pretty high. I went out there and sat down with all their coaches. One thing I really like about ASU is there is such a young group of guys there. They're all still hungry and if I went there I definitely know I could go to war with those guys. That's something I want for sure.

"ASU has set the bar high, but I just can't wait to get out to all the other colleges."

Murphy had 12 tackles for loss, 70 total tackles and two fumble recoveries as a junior last season.