NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jalen McMurray fought tears. Josh Heupel struggled to get words out.
The senior defensive back battled an undisclosed injury during the month of December. In the practices leading up to the finale, he had been limited, taking a day-by-day approach. Some days were better than others. An admitted McMurray made it to Monday, Dec. 29, with large doubts looming over his availability.
But when it was all said and done, the senior battled in a hard-fought loss that came down to the final kick, 30-28, in the Music City Bowl against Illinois. He did it for the love of the game — making sure his teammates could not formulate a negative opinion
“I didn’t want my teammates, even though I know they probably wouldn’t think this, didn’t want them thinking I quit on them,” McMurray said.
McMurray made a crucial stop in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Illinois marched into Tennessee territory, setting up at the 10-yard line for third-and-nine. Luke Altmyer surveyed the field, then fired across the middle to Hudson Clement. There stood McMurray’s assignment, jumping the lane for a pass breakup in the end zone — forcing the Illini to settle for three points.
His play kept Tennessee in one-score striking distance, where the ensuing kickoff went 94 yards the other direction. The Vols took a 28-27 lead directly following McMurray’s knockaway. Though Tennessee could not hold on down the stretch, he finished the way with two tackles and two pass breakups.
In the current era of college football, stories resembling McMurray’s are far and few between.
“Great teammate, great football player, and he’s a football player,” Heupel said. “He loves playing the game. For him to be able to go through it today, to make a decision that he can play and then go play the way that he did, I think says everything that – well, it is everything that you would want in a player as a coach. Couldn’t be more proud of him.”
It’s a two-year experiment that has benefited both parties. McMurray has garnered a plethora of relationships, while Tennessee earned a year of complementary depth and a second year of breakout STAR play.
“This is the most fun I’ve had playing football in my life,” McMurray said.
He left Temple with the goal of betterment. With his collegiate career now wrapped up, he’s confident that he chose the correct place in an era where transferring dominates the scene.
McMurray needed to put a bow on that decision. It’s why he made every effort possible to participate on Tuesday. And he walks away knowing he gave every last bit.
“It was important to me to leave it out, everything on the field, give it all for the power T,” McMurray said. “Give it all for my teammates, coaches — them for giving me so much. The opportunity to come out here and play with them.”
His commitment comes with an invite to the prestigious Senior Bowl later in the month. It is an event established to showcase some of the best draft-eligible players firsthand to numerous scouts in attendance. A further injury could’ve risked that opportunity.
In fact, he was surrounded by a quintet of opt-outs from those around him. Chris Brazzell II, Arion Carter, Joshua Josephs, Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy elected against playing in favor of their NFL futures.
But he was also surrounded by a group of other guys wanting to finish what they started. Sixth-year defensive linemen Bryson Eason and Dominic Bailey have been with Heupel the entire way. The same goes for Tyre West, who did it the traditional way — spending all four years at the same school before inevitably moving on to the next level.
Each of them capped off their illustrious careers with the heartrending loss in the Music City Bowl.
“Just a phenomenal group that has helped us do a lot of really special things at Tennessee,” Heupel said. “Go back to the first year we were here and how that year started. Come a long way.”
