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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jess Root

OL Paris Johnson was star-struck by Kyler Murray during official visit

The Arizona Cardinals’ first-round draft pick was offensive lineman Paris Johnson. He was the player quarterback Kyler Murray wanted the team to select and made it known in the building before it happened.

Murray was in the building when Johnson was on his top-30 visit with the Cardinals and instigated an interaction that left Johnson star-struck.

Johnson recalled it after he was drafted.

“In my Top 30 visit, I got some food here, walking through this hallway over here, and I look around the corner and I see him. I give him a head nod, trying to act all cool,” explained. “I’m not trying to act a fanboy, but I’m like, ‘What’s good?’ And then he’s like, ‘P, come here.’ And I’m like, ‘Yo, he knows me!’

“So, I’m walking over and I’m texting my teammate Luke Wypler, ‘Dude, Kyler Murray knows who I am.’ So, I’m acting all cool and texting him. And he goes, ‘Yo Paris, what’s up? I’ve seen you play, I’ve seen your Pro Day, I’ve seen all this. I love what I see. I see how hard you play, the tenacity, the finish, and I’d love for you to block for me.’ It’s coming from a franchise guy. He said it before I had a chance to say it’d be an honor to play for him. He said it first, coming out of his mouth first. That’s huge. That’s an honor. I respect that, so that’s amazing.”

Now Johnson will be tasked with blocking for Murray.

This looks like it is going to be a great fit.

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