2014 Mr. Texas Football: Allen QB Kyler Murray

Nobody is perfect. But in terms of what he did on the football field during his stellar career with the Allen Eagles, Kyler Murray came pretty darn close.After winning back-to-back state titles and becoming the first underclassman to win the Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year award, it would have been easy for Murray to grow complacent. But that’s not Murray. All the gaudy statistics and hardware are a testament to what makes him special — his competitive nature and work ethic.Whether it was training with his father and former Texas A&M great Kevin Murray or competing for a spot in the Elite 11 finals or leading Allen to the state 7-on-7 tournament, Murray never stopped working. And it paid dividends on the football field in 2014.As a result, Murray staked his spot in Texas history, earning the title of Mr. Texas Football for 2014 and becoming the first two-time winner of the award.Already one of the most electric dual-threat quarterbacks in the state, Murray became even more dangerous as a passer, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,713 yards and an astonishing 54 touchdowns. Murray’s decision-making was sensational: in 433 pass attempts, he threw just eight interceptions.While Murray’s passing improved, his playmaking ability with his legs didn’t miss a beat. Murray ran for 1,495 yards and 25 touch- downs, giving him an unbelievable 79 total scores on the year.Murray made his biggest difference when it mattered most. Trailing in playoff games against DFW powers DeSoto, Euless Trinity and Dallas Skyline, Murray engineered comebacks in all three contests.The 18-point deficit in the state semifinals against Dallas Skyline was the biggest Murray had faced as a starter. But he was never fazed — Murray led Allen on five second-half scoring drives that took four plays or fewer to help the Eagles rally for a 52-34 victory.Murray’s final game in an Allen uniform didn’t involve much drama as he put on a classic Kyler Murray performance, totaling 379 yards and five touchdowns in the Eagles 47-16 blowout win over Cy Ranch in the 6A Division I state title game. Murray received a standing ovation as he trotted off the field in the final minutes in the fourth quarter. Perfection.“I’ve been fortunate enough to play with three great teams, but this one’s probably my favorite, just because of all the adversity we faced as a team,” Murray said. “Key injuries throughout the season, everyone falling and the next man standing up.”Is Murray the greatest player in Texas high school football histo- ry? His stats speak for themselves: 42-0 as a starter, back-to-back- to-back state champion, 14,500 yards of total offense and 186 com- bined touchdowns.One thing is for certain — Murray is more than deserving of being the only two-time recipient of the Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year award.