DeMarco Murray rushes from obscurity into Cowboys’ record book
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DeMarco Murray was an afterthought for the Dallas Cowboys going into the 2011 season. Now the rookie third-string running back finds himself in the team record book, listed above such Cowboys legends as Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
Murray ran for 253 yards in Dallas’ 34-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, the most rushing yards ever in a single game in team history. Only eight other NFL players and one other rookie have compiled more yards on the ground in one game.
It was also the most rushing yards ever allowed by the Rams, breaking a record set by Jim Brown in 1957.
“I never thought in a million years that I’d ever have a day like this,” said Murray, a third-round pick out of Oklahoma who ran 91 yards for a touchdown (second longest in team history) on his first carry. “This is what I’ve been working hard for since my Pop Warner days.”
Murray entered the game with just 71 yards for the season but saw increased playing time due to a high ankle sprain to starter Felix Jones.
Most NFL fans may have been caught by surprise (more than 11,000 fantasy players added Murray to their rosters Monday morning on Yahoo! Sports), but Sooner fans may have seen this coming. Murray set career records at Oklahoma for all-purpose yards (6,626), touchdowns (64), points (384) and receiving yards by a running back (1,572).
The question now becomes, will Murray get a chance for a repeat performance? He is still listed as third on the Cowboys’ depth chart, behind Jones and Tashard Choice. But Jones may miss more games with his injury ... plus how long can they keep an all-time team leader on the bench?
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— Chuck Schilken
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
