Marchie Murdock’s first season with Iowa State football ‘was like a hurricane’

AMES - Immediately following his last undergraduate final, Marchie Murdock jumped in his car and headed west.

The decision to graduate and transfer from Illinois to Iowa State was already made, and Murdock was up against the start of the Cyclones' fall camp as he finished classes in Champaign. Less than 24 hours before report day in Amess, Murdock picked up and traveled the 370 miles to his new home.

'It was like a hurricane, man,” Murdock said. 'I put my stuff at my house, or the house I was going to be living in, and then basically stayed there for the night. Then I was up early in the morning doing some stuff, academic stuff. Then I came for the (team) meeting and that was that.”

The whirlwind that was Murdock's arrival in Ames provided some unique challenges. He had to quickly integrate himself into the system, missing all of the spring practices and summer conditioning his teammates experienced. Lots of his offseason work was done on his own and with a trainer his father set up for him.

Murdock, a 6-foot-1 and 205-pound senior who came to Iowa State with two years to play, got lost in the shuffle at times. He played in nine games last season, catching two passes for 29 yards - one of which was a 15-yard grab in the season opener.

'I was more focused on lifting and that stuff just to stay fit,” Murdock said. 'I think more of my conditioning held me back a little bit, which it happens.

'Through the season I was supporting my team and trying to do what I can to help the guys out, especially the younger guys. Deshaunte (Jones), other freshmen, Hakeem (Butler). I think I did a pretty good job, stayed the course and now I'm here.”

'Here” is atop the depth chart at wide receiver. Seniors Allen Lazard, who is set to break almost every ISU receiving record this season, and Trever Ryen top the other two spots. Murdock's rise was a little more gradual, but having a full season and offseason in the same spot did wonders.

There was no more playing catch-up when practices commenced in March. Murdock was ready to take full advantage of his last go-around. Wide receivers coach Bryan Gasser called it 'March Madness,” not only for the sake of a pun, but how much Murdock burst onto the scene.

'He was hot in March,” Gasser said. '(He) was probably offensively, I'd say, the MVP of what we did in the spring then has really developed that leadership role. He's not only a great teammate, but he's a guy that works really hard.

'I've got a lot of expectations for him. I think he's got a chance to really help this team.”

'When the hourglass has turned and the sand's starting to run out, all of a sudden, sometimes you see that spark finally come that it becomes elite,” said Iowa State Coach Matt Campbell. 'Marchie is one of those guys that is just an incredible spirit, an incredible work ethic and a guy that right now has really put himself into the top of the list.”

Another piece of the receiving corps who has situated himself well this fall is Butler, a redshirt sophomore. The 6-foot-6 outside receiver played in 11 games last year, caught nine passes for 134 yards with two touchdowns, and added 15 pounds to his frame this offseason.

'Hakeem Butler, maybe the most talented wide receiver in our entire wide receiver room,” Campbell said. 'When you really cut it open, he had a great spring and has had a great summer as well. So I think there's high end playing time available for that wide receiver group.”

Iowa State has attained other young receivers in Jones, redshirt freshman Jalen Martin and true freshmen Josh Johnson and Tarique Milton with Butler leading the way. The goal Butler set last season was being consistent as a pass catcher, and the mindset he adopted in the offseason, he hopes, will help him realize his goals in 2017.

'Just coming in ready to work,” Butler said. 'The consistency thing was a big thing for me last year because I didn't see as much time as I wanted to. But I know why, because I wasn't as consistent as I should have been. So now it's just better.”

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