Chargers rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray will be wearing No. 56, the same number that was once worn by the legendary Shawne Merriman.
“It’s cool, especially when you have a guy that can make some plays,” Merriman said about Murray.
“He’s explosive, man, and that’s the fun part. You look at these guys and I always evaluate, especially linebackers at his position, how their mental approach is and how they lay it all out on the field, right?”
Taken with the No. 23 overall selection after trading up with the Patriots, Murray is expected to add a dynamic element to the linebacker room and defense as a whole.
Murray is coveted for his ability to make consistent plays on the football, possessing the sideline-to-sideline speed, range and tenacious mentality against the run, in coverage and as a blitzer.
Merriman loves Murray’s style of play, citing how it will easily translate to the NFL. The Chargers legend even believes that he can become one of the best at his position in the league.
“You have some guys that just get to the ball and want to make a tackle. No, he’s running through guys, and that’s when you see this explosive movement come in and him finishing guys and swarming to tackles and being relentless.
This is what I see from him and without jumping the gun because the NFL is obviously much different from college, I can see right now he’s gonna be a player. He’s gonna be a star in the NFL,” Merriman said.
Murray needs to dial up his instincts, clean up some overaggressive tendencies and develop a better feel in coverage. However, he has the talent and skillset to be a really good linebacker and locker room presence for the next decade, especially playing alongside the ascending LB Drue Tranquill.
