Chris Murray, a fifth-year senior linebacker at Auburn, is positioning himself for a vital role following an injury to teammate JJ Faulk during preseason camp. As Auburn gears up for its season opener against Baylor on September 5, Murray is competing for playing time alongside Da'Shawn Womack and Jared Smith.
Coach Alex Golesh praised Murray's performance, highlighting his impressive recovery after missing the first week and a half of camp due to injury. Golesh remarked, "He's been phenomenal here the last week... He's competing to be one of the two, and these next two days are really, really big for him."
Murray began his football career at TCU in 2021, playing for two seasons before transferring to Sam Houston State for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He joined Auburn before the 2025 season, where he recorded 15 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss in his first year.
In March, he received a waiver from the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, allowing him to join the team late in the spring practice period.
Murray expressed the significance of his experience, stating, "I think the biggest blessing for me is that I'm an older guy. I'm a little more experienced with certain things... I can teach these young guys how to move, how to maneuver." As Auburn prepares for an upcoming scrimmage, details about Murray's role will become clearer as the game approaches.
