Murphy set for takeoff

• By GEORGE MORRIS
• 2theadvocate.com staff writer
• Published: Apr 6, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Natural overcast and the spring-long, suspension-related absence of quarterback Ryan Perrilloux might have clouded Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon. But — figuratively, anyway — there was plenty of sunshine for LSU football coach Les Miles.

Running back Richard Murphy had a head-turning performance, and quarterbacks Andrew Hatch and Jarrett Lee had solid outings as the White team beat the Purple team 38-10 in the spring game, which concluded the 15-practice spring season.

Murphy, a redshirt sophomore, had 145 yards and two rushing touchdowns and caught a 53-yard TD pass from Lee in an effort to nominate himself for the role of go-to back in an offense that, if history under Miles is a guide, is sure to feature a handful of runners.

But, with sure-handed and tough-running Jacob Hester graduated, Charles Scott injured, Trindon Holliday running track and Keiland Williams earning a spot on the bench with a first-quarter fumble, Murphy took full advantage of the spotlight.

“I really couldn’t sleep last night,” Murphy said. “I told myself this morning whatever chance I get I’m going to try to do the best I can, go hard every play.”

Murphy’s chances were limited last season, when he was fifth on the team in rushing with 230 yards on 35 carries.

“Murphy is a very elusive back,” Miles said. “He really had a strong showing. … Murphy came out of the spring, in my opinion, maybe a little advanced as a runner in certain situations and I think really made a case for maybe him playing a little more this year.

“Keiland Williams (five rushes, 36 yards) had some nice carries, but he cannot — no back can — throw it on the ground.”

Quarterbacks, however, can, which is far preferable to throwing it to the defense. Except for an interception Hatch threw trying to make something happen while scrambling, they combined for 30 passes without a defender touching the ball first. Alternating between the White team (mostly made up of starters) and Purple (mostly backups), Hatch, the junior transfer from Harvard and the more mobile of the two, was 13 of 17 for 184 yards and two touchdowns, while Lee, the redshirt freshman pocket passer, was 7 of 13 for 67 yards and two scores.

That ball security was a big reason Miles declared himself comfortable if Perrilloux, for whatever reason, isn’t the starter in the fall.

“If you manage the game at the quarterback spot and make the plays that you can make and the plays that you can’t you throw it away and you put the ball out of reach of the defense, the way our defense plays we’ll have opportunities to punt it and get it back and score again,” he said. “The key is manage the game, and part of that is keep the ball in our hands.

“I think both guys can come in and play.”

Neither quarterback was available to the media after the spring game, but teammates were happy to fill in the gaps.