Football Preview: Healthy Murphy ready to make up for lost time for Radnor

RADNOR >> Following his sophomore season, CJ Murphy was on track to having a special football career at Radnor.

In 2019, Murphy earned a spot in the starting rotation on defense and made a name for himself at linebacker. He had shown only a glimmer of his potential, but it was evident then that he was going to be an impact player as a junior.

Unfortunately, the injury bug struck Murphy last fall. He did not play during the team’s truncated six-game, league-only season in 2020 in which Radnor finished with a 4-2 record (and a memorable 12-7 win at Ridley).

For a junior hoping to produce game film for potential college coaches, every missed game counts. Nevertheless, the future is bright for Murphy.

The son of Penn lacrosse coach Mike Murphy, CJ Murphy has worked tirelessly in preparation for his senior season. Not even a broken hand, which cost him practice time earlier in the summer, could hold him down.

“We saw CJ at the tail end of his sophomore year, he played a ton at linebacker in the Penn Wood game (in the district playoffs). He did a lot of things really well,” said Tom Ryan, who begins his 15th season as head coach at Radnor. “It’s just a shame that the injury happened his junior year, but I think it’s caused CJ to work even harder maybe than he would have just because he missed it so much. But even with his injuries he still was one of my leaders as a junior. He never missed practice, he came and supported his teammates, and now he’s taken over with a couple other guys as one of the senior leaders this year.”

For Radnor’s football program to take the next leap — to make a run in the Garnet Valley-dominant Central League and compete for a District 1 Class 5A title — it needs Murphy healthy. He has drawn a lot of Ivy School interest and has attended camps at Penn State, Virginia and Maryland.

You can bank on the 6-3, 220-pounder being on the field when Radnor opens its season at Oxford.

“I was kind of lucky in the sense where athletically as soon as I got back from my foot injury, I kind of hit the ground running with all my training and got back to better than I was before pretty quickly,” Murphy said. “I did a lot of throwing with the guys, too, so I feel athletic there. I’ll be playing linebacker and receiver/tight end. I feel like things are going really well.”

Murphy is among four seniors returning in starting positions, joining four-year starter and linebacker/running back Damien Falcone (5-9, 205), linebacker/tight end Will Gallagher (6-2, 200) and two-way lineman Jack Condran (6-0, 215).

First-year varsity members include senior lineman Ben Hart (6-0, 200), junior lineman Dominic Laudicina (6-5, 230) and sophomore athlete Tucker Graham (5-10, 160)

“We lost some exciting talent last year, but we have juniors and sophomores that are stepping up big time and making a lot of improvement,” Murphy said. “I feel we all collectively as a group worked really hard this summer in the weight room and on the field.”

Varsity newcomer Jude Wallin, a 6-1, 180-pound senior, will be the starting quarterback.

“He’s actually already been offered a spot at Macalester College (Minn.). He’s verbaled there and is a real bright, academic kid,” Ryan said. “He’s athletic and has good arm strength.”

Wallin is excited to show what he’s capable of at the varsity level after thriving on JV last fall.

“Just a lot of hard work in my backyard. I’m doing a lot of footwork stuff and drills I find on YouTube,” Wallin said. “I’ve grown up with a lot of these guys and have played with them a lot. Watching them play under the lights on Friday nights over the years, it’s super exciting for me to be able to go out there and play with them.”

Ryan is also expecting big things from his junior class, including wide receiver/defensive back Amir Boyd, running back/linebacker Dante Hopson, wide receiver/defensive back Tommy DeShan and lineman Keaton Monahan.

“We lost 18 seniors and it was definitely a setback having only a six-game season last year,” Wallin said. “Now this year we know we’ll definitely have 11 games. I think it really motivates everyone to be able to get out and work hard.”