Arizona wide receiver Reymello Murphy is one of several new players on the UA roster, but he isn't as new as some of the other transfers.
The former Old Dominion standout is familiar with several of his new teammates, including quarterback Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, linebacker Jacob Manu and tight end Keyan Burnett.
Due to pandemic-influenced local mandates in the Bay Area during the 2020-21 season, Murphy transferred from Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose to Santa Margarita Catholic in Southern California, where he met Fifita and McMillan at camps and 7-on-7 events. Murphy joining the Wildcats is a "full-circle" moment, Fifita said at Big 12 Media Days.
Murphy "had a good connection with them since high school," which made coming to Arizona out of the transfer portal a no-brainer for him.
Arizona wide receiver Reymello Murphy (0) turns with the ball as he head to the end zone during a fall preseason practice on July 31 at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields on the UA campus.
"It was more of a family thing, a family feel here," Murphy said. "It was a comfortable decision, coming here."
Added Murphy: "Once I played with them, there was no looking back. They took me in as one of their own. That kind of stuck the last couple of years."
Arizona wide receiver Reymello Murphy (0) runs during a fall practice drill on July 21 at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields on the UA campus.
UA wide receivers coach Bobby Wade credited McMillan, who returned to UA training camp in limited fashion on Wednesday as he continues to rehabilitate a left leg injury, with drawing Murphy to Tucson.
"Him and T-Mac are really close and they've been friends for a while," Wade said. "When it came to the point where he was in the portal, we did our due diligence with the film review, evaluation process. We did a job in recruiting him and communicating, we did the background check. We also had a bunch of people that had a bunch of connections with him and his family."
Murphy is also connected with several of his teammates from College of San Mateo in Northern California. The 6-foot, 201-pound Murphy played for the Bulldogs in 2022 and was teammates with UA slot receiver Jeremiah Patterson, cornerbacks Demetrius Freeney and Johno Price and defensive end Cyrus Durham.
After transferring to Old Dominion, Murphy led the Monarchs in receiving yards (502) and ranked 27th in college football in yards per catch (17.9) in 13 games.
Reymello Murphy, left, averaged 17.9 yards per catch for Old Dominion in 2023. Murphy has joined Arizona’s receiving corps through the transfer portal for 2024.
Murphy adds "toughness and experience" to Arizona's receiving corps, Wade said.
"He's very even-keeled and I think his personality fits in the room," said Wade. "He shows up every day to be a pro. His preparation is always on point and he shows his experience through his play. He does a good job with the remainder of the group and keeping everyone's spirits high and communicating well and understanding that we're all going to have to play a role in this offense, if we want to be as good as we want to be."
Since joining the Wildcats this summer, Wade "helped me bring back the joy in football," Murphy said.
"He wants us to do our job, but also have fun," Murphy said of Arizona's wide receivers coach. "It takes off the pressure in terms of being out there, being nervous and being flustered out there."
Staying present and soaking in every moment of what will be his lone season in Tucson is imperative for Murphy. This could also be a season that sets Murphy up for the NFL or it could be his final hurrah as a football player.
Murphy
"Reymello is a senior, so this is it for him," Wade said. "Every rep matters. I think that's what is important to him. Coach Brennan talks about the 'right now.' Everyone wants to be present, but how do you be present? You focus on the 'right now.' Every moment I get with him, I try to make him focus on the moment; same thing with T-Mac.
"More importantly, just having fun in the moment. This is going to pass you soon, you don't know what's next, but you know this is here now. Enjoy it."
Arizona has a "true competition within the room" for the six- or seven-man rotation at receiver the Wildcats plan to use this season. Murphy is among the list of candidates looking to crack a spot and become a mainstay in the offense. Nothing is promised, but "a lot of ups and downs" in Murphy's football-playing career has prepared him.
"To be honest, that's how I grew up," Murphy said. "It wasn't really anything new.
"It makes you a little bit tougher, makes your skin a little hard," he added. "Going through those trials and tribulations, and certain achievements, just helps you become a better man."
Arizona wide receiver Jeremiah Patterson (2) runs his route during a fall preseason practice on July 31 at the Dick Tomey Practice Fields on the UA campus.
Patterson adds 'quickness and experience'
If there's anyone who is trending towards a potential starting role in Arizona's offense, it's Patterson, the 5-10, 175-pound junior from San Francisco.
Patterson is arguably Arizona's fastest receiver and is a skillful route-runner.
In two seasons at College of San Mateo, Patterson caught 90 passes for 1,118 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Bulldogs' slot receiver.
Patterson, who has taken over former Arizona receiver Jacob Cowing's jersey number (2), brings "quickness and experience," Wade said.
"You can tell he's played a lot of football," he added.
Wade closely monitored Patterson during the spring recruiting period and "did a really good job with that evaluation process."
"I've watched every single one of his games, probably every single one of his reps. The final piece was to watch him live and work out. When I got out to San Mateo and watched him work, it was immediate for me, and that's I needed to see.
"He's bringing exactly what I wanted him to bring to this offense. I also feel like there's gonna be more that I can give him sooner than later, which is great. I think his learning curve is outstanding. He's doing a great job of attaching himself to Noah and is trying to ask the right questions and get the knowledge and information that he needs to fit within the offense. I'm excited to see him play."
Patterson is currently favored to start at punt returner, "a really difficult position to play," said Wade, who's mentoring Patterson as a returner. Wade was a standout punt returner in the NFL.
"You gotta carry yourself with confidence and I think he carries himself with a lot of confidence. ... I think he can help us back there, for sure," Wade said of Patterson.
Patterson emerging for the Wildcats is "no surprise" to Murphy.
"I already knew what he could do," Murphy said. "Once he came in and showed what he can do, especially in the slot, in terms of his route-running, his IQ, I knew he was going to be able to flourish out there."
Extra points
- Wade said sophomore receiver and potential starter Malachi Riley is "really coming into his own." Said Wade: "He's starting to find his niche and his ability to fit within this offense. I've challenged him — and he's accepted the challenge — to do the things that are difficult for him. The physical part of the game, staying on the field and not just running verticals, but those tough yards, the bubbles, the quick slants, the contested catches. I think he's done a good job in trying to focus on that when those moments come — and the only you can get that is from practicing that way. That's what's so great about our defense, going up against some good (cornerbacks) and safeties. Mal is getting the opportunity to improve his game from practice."
- McMillan was listed at No. 23 on The Athletic's "freaks list" for the upcoming season. Arizona right tackle Jonah Savaiinaea was ranked No. 37.
- New punter Lachlan Bruce made his UA practice debut on Wednesday. The Oregon transfer and native of Geelong, Australia, who will don 96 as his jersey number, kicked a series of punts. Three of his left-legged punts unofficially had a hang time of 4.04, 4.23 and 4.16 seconds.
