Post-OSU Update: Kurt Murphy was not selected in the 2000 NFL Draft. He has had a long career in business operations, most recently working as a Senior Director of Distribution for Chico’s FAS, Inc. (Updated: Mar. 2022)

Major: Marketing (1999)

Weight: 290 (1997-99), 275 (1996)

1999 Media Guide: Kurt Murphy, a leader on the field and in the classroom for the Buckeyes, is a strong and physical player who plays with great effort and determination every time he steps on the football field. A three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a GTE/CoSIDA District IV academic All-American, Murphy is considered the leader of the offensive line. A veteran of 32 games, 19 starts at center (with a current string of 18 consecutive starts) and 590 minutes played. Murphy makes all the line calls and adjustments during a game and he is called “the stabilizer of the offensive line who is a very steady player” by line coach Mike Jacobs.

1998: Started all 12 games at center and logged the most playing time of any offensive lineman: 311 minutes. Named co-OSU lineman of the week following wins over West Virginia and Minnesota. A major reason why the Buckeyes ranked fifth nationally in total offense (503.5 yards per game) and first in the Big Ten in passing efficiency, total offense and scoring.

1997: Played in all 13 games at center and started seven times. Logged a total of 201 minutes of playing time, with a high of 35 minutes against Florida State in the Nokia Sugar Bowl. Moved into the starting lineup against Indiana and started the last six games. Also started the Arizona game due to an injury that caused the coaches to do some shuffling up front.

1997 Media Guide: Outstanding young lineman who will back up Eric Gohlstin this year … has the potential to be a future standout and should be a fixture at center after Gohlstin graduates … is a strong, physical player who is particularly effective as a run blocker and is improving all the time in his pass blocking technique.

1996: Played in seven games and logged a total of 78 minutes, the third highest total by a freshman … played 31 minutes against Indiana, easily his longest appearance of the year.

High School: Played center and nose tackle as a senior at DeSales high school … tallied 43 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a senior … All-America selection by SuperPrep, The National Recruiting Advisor and National Bluechips Recruiting … Associated Press first-team all-Ohio offense (Division II) … all-district and all-league as a junior and senior … rated the sixth best center in the nation by The National Recruiting Advisor … Rated the fifth best offensive lineman in the Midwest by Bluechip Illustrated … Ranked the 22nd best offensive lineman in the country by SuperPrep and the 25th best player in the Midwest … Rated the top center prospect in the Midwest by SuperPrep … Rated the 40th best player in the Midwest by the Prep Football Report … Honorable mention Best of the Midwest by the Detroit Free Press … rated the 11th best player in Ohio by The Ohio Football Recruiting News … Three-year starter and letterwinner in football and three-year letterwinner in
track, throwing the shotput and the discus … Played in the annual Ohio-Pennsylvania Big 33 all-star game … high school teammate of Buckeye recruit Gary Berry … high school coach was Bob Jacoby.

Personal: Chose Ohio State because “of the opportunity to play early and felt comfortable with the players and coaches” … mother, master’s, and father, dental school, both attended Ohio
State, as did an aunt and uncle … Full name is Kurt Rexford Murphy.