The volleyball world is absolutely buzzing right now. And it’s all thanks to the Nebraska Huskers and TikTok—especially with the dynamic duo of Harper Murray and Coach John Cook in the mix. In October 2024, Harper Murray shared a super fun montage, showcasing heartwarming moments from the court. With an adorable snap of her sister, Kendall Murray, giving Harper a piggyback ride to this sweet hug with Michigan’s Carly Greskovics, it had it all. But the real showstopper?
A pic of Harper and Coach Cook with their faces printed on her jersey!
It’s such a twist, and Husker Nation couldn’t help but share it! Hail Varsity dropped it on X with the caption, “This might be the best thing we’ve seen all year. @jcook2 @harpermurray4.”
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But wait, the story gets even juicier! As if it wasn’t enough, Coach Cook can’t even pick up Harper’s calls! The departure of the Nebraska Huskers’ star has left other coaches feeling uneasy, which only adds to the comedic nature of this unfolding saga.
Harper Murray posted a TikTok video a day ago, which was a hilarious prank on all her coaches Jordan Larson, Jaylen Reyes, Kelly (Hunter) Natter, Lindsay Peterson, and the legend, Coach John Cook. But plot twist—guess who didn’t pick up her call? Yup, Coach Cook. Harper couldn’t resist spilling the tea in her caption: “GUYS @coachjohncook1 WOULDNT ANSWER MY CALLS. I’ll try again with him tho.”
Well, perhaps she’ll have to get him another time, but for now, she is having us all in stitches with her sly antics.
Harper Murray’s latest TikTok prank had us all cracking up. In the video, she FaceTimed her coaches, but here’s the kicker—she had her laptop set up with a video of a guy just staring blankly at the camera, while she used her back camera for the call. When Jordan Larson finally answered the call, she remained silent before responding, “Harperrr.”
The confusion on the coaches’ faces was priceless! Jaylen Reyes just sat there looking at the screen until his screen froze, and the rest either burst into laughter, hung up the phone, or uttered that familiar ‘huh?’ look.
It’s clear Harper’s got this playful, special bond with her coaches, always ready with a good prank. But beyond the laughs, Harper also recently shared a heartfelt moment with one of her coaches, showing how deep her connection goes.
Harper Murray gets emotional for a coach!
Well, it’s no longer hush-hush—Olympic champ and Nebraska Huskers assistant coach Jordan Larson has officially stepped down from her post. The information came out on Monday and the Huskers head coach John Cook clearly could not mask his feelings.
“While I am disappointed we won’t have her on staff anymore, I am thankful to Jordan for all that she has done,” he said. And now? The fan-favorite outside hitter Harper Murray is stepping in with nothing more than love and appreciation for her former coach.
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Harper isn’t just a star on the court—she’s got a heart full of appreciation and she’s making sure the world knows just how much Larson meant to her journey. Turns out, “part of the reason” she went with NU was because she was a huge fan of Jordan Larson. She only wished to continue the grand tradition Larson created and nothing could have been more shocking for her in 2023 when Jordan joined the coaching staff.
“The day I found out Jordan would be joining our staff two years ago, I cried on the court during practice,” she revealed. And now, with Larson stepping down? Harper’s feeling all the emotions, but if there’s one clear thing—it’s just how deep her connection runs with her coaches!
In a shocking turn of events, Nebraska Huskers star John Cook failed to receive a call from Harper Murray, a top recruit, leaving other college coaches in fear of his recruiting prowess.
According to sources close to the situation, Murray attempted to reach out to Cook multiple times, only to be met with silence on the other end. It is reported that Cook simply “wouldn’t answer” Murray’s calls, leaving the recruit feeling frustrated and confused.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the college volleyball world, with other coaches now wary of Cook’s ability to land top recruits and build a powerhouse program at Nebraska. Many are speculating that Cook’s intimidating reputation and track record of success are driving away potential recruits from other programs.
As the drama unfolds, all eyes will be on John Cook and the Nebraska Huskers to see how they navigate this latest controversy. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Getting the win was the most important thing, Murray says.
But a close second had to be the joy he had in helping secure the Pelicans’ fifth win in their last eight games. Murray put that joy on display on Wednesday, especially after hitting the 3-pointer.
“I think at those times, I just felt something and it felt good,” Murray said. “It wasn’t even about the shot going in. It was just a moment I let out emotions.”
And for Murray, there have been plenty of emotions to sift through in the first 2½ months of the season.
There was the broken left hand he suffered in the season opening win against the Chicago Bulls on a night he almost recorded a triple double in his Pelicans’ debut. It’s a game he probably shouldn’t have even been playing in. Just days before that, his mom had suffered a stroke. He could’ve chosen to miss the start of the season, but she insisted he didn’t. Then he broke his hand and ended up missing time anyway. Seventeen games.
“I’m trying to get my fun back,” Murray said. “It’s nothing with the team. Just dealing with a lot. It’s been tough for me. I’m a strong person, but at the same time I’m human. I think sometimes I can forget that.”
Murray’s been back for 24 games now. Slowly but surely he’s finding his way on his new team, where the guys in the starting lineup seem to change almost every night.
“New teammates, new environment, new community,” said Pelicans’ head coach Willie Green. “It just took time to be able to get to this point where he feels comfortable and confident. And his teammates have been doing a great job of rallying behind him.”
Murray has strung together three of his best games as a Pelican during this recent stretch. He’s averaging 23.6 points, 7.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds over the past three games. He’s made at least four 3-pointers in each of those games, including a season-best six in the close loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Even more importantly, he’s been better at taking care of the basketball. There was a rough stretch in November when he had back-to-back games with 8 turnovers. He hasn’t had more than two turnovers in any of the past three games.
Green hasn’t been surprised to get this version of Murray. It’s why they traded Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, and two future first-round draft picks to get him.
“That’s just who he is, who he’s been over the course of the last five to seven seasons,” Green said. “It’s good to see him push through. He’s had the hand injury, came back knocking off rust. He’s mentally tough. He’s a leader. It was great to see him put together a game like he did (Wednesday) just to remind everybody of what he’s capable of doing on the basketball court.”
Murray will look to continue that Friday when the Pelicans (10-32) host the Utah Jazz (10-29) in a game between the two teams at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. You can pretty much guarantee Murray will be ready to go. He’s been listed as “questionable” or “probable” on every injury report lately as he deals with right elbow soreness. It’s the same right elbow he left in the air after one of his 3-pointers Wednesday night, soaking in the moment of his best game as a Pelican yet.
“Basketball is my peace,” Murray said. “It’s joy with it. At the end of the day, I’ll continue to push and do my part. … I want the fans to say I work hard. I play hard. And I want the organization to think and feel the same way.”
Just a few weeks into the new season, Dejounte Murray’s performance on the court last night served as a powerful reminder of why the New Orleans Pelicans were so eager to sign him in the offseason. The young point guard showcased his incredible talent and potential, leading the team to a dominating victory.
Murray’s stat line was impressive, with a double-double of 23 points and 12 assists, along with several steals and rebounds. His court vision and playmaking ability were on full display, as he orchestrated the offense with precision and found his teammates in all the right spots.
But it wasn’t just Murray’s individual stats that stood out – it was his impact on the entire team. His leadership on the court was evident, as he motivated his teammates and set the tone for the game. His defensive prowess also shone through, as he disrupted the opposing team’s offense and forced turnovers.
Overall, Murray’s night was a perfect example of why the Pelicans were so thrilled to add him to their roster. His combination of skill, athleticism, and basketball IQ make him a valuable asset to the team, and his performance last night only solidified that fact.
As the season progresses, fans can expect to see more standout performances from Dejounte Murray, as he continues to prove himself as a key player for the Pelicans. With him leading the way, the team is poised for success in the upcoming games and beyond.
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The New Orleans Pelicans lost another close home game, this time to the Los Angeles Clippers 116-113 on Monday night. Monday’s loss is the 10th straight for New Orleans, as they have lost all five games on their home stand and will now head on the road. The Pelicans had their chances late, but turnovers and missed shots were their undoing against the Clippers.
Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray had one of his best games in a New Orleans uniform since being acquired this summer in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. The former all-star guard finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and six steals. Murray has been turnover-prone in December, logging three games with at least seven turnovers.
Dec 30, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) brings the ball up court against the LA Clippers during the first half at Smoothie King Center. / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
On Monday, the Seattle, Washington native committed four turnovers and did a much better job protecting the basketball. Murray missed a month-and-a-half after fracturing his left hand during the Pelicans’ regular-season opener against the Chicago Bulls. Many questioned if he might have returned too soon after seeing some of his struggles shooting and handling the basketball.
Murray addressed the media following Monday’s loss to briefly discuss his health during the team’s losing streak.
“No excuses”, Murray told reporters postgame. “A lot of things going on. Still trying to get healthy, dealing with little things, but at the end of the day I’m not that guy that’s going to come to media when we lose, ‘Oh I’m hurt and dealing with this or that’. That’s the cop-out way.”
Getting healthy has been an issue for the Pelicans all season long. New Orleans is without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Jose Alvarado, and guys like Murray, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones have already missed significant time this season. At 5-28, many think the season is already a lost cause. Williamson is close to a return to the court, but it may be too little and too late to salvage what’s left of the year.
New Orleans next travels to Miami to battle the Heat on Wednesday evening.
Dejounte Murray’s Candid Statement After Pelicans vs Clippers
After a hard-fought game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Clippers, Dejounte Murray took to the podium to deliver a candid statement about the team’s performance.
“We gave it our all out there tonight,” Murray began. “We knew coming into this game that the Clippers are a tough team to beat, but we weren’t going to back down. I’m proud of the effort we put forth on the court.”
Murray went on to praise his teammates for their resilience and determination throughout the game, highlighting their teamwork and chemistry on the court. He also acknowledged the tough competition presented by the Clippers, but expressed confidence in the Pelicans’ ability to bounce back.
“We know we have what it takes to compete at a high level in this league,” Murray stated. “Tonight may not have gone our way, but we’re going to learn from this and come back even stronger in the next game.”
In closing, Murray expressed his gratitude to the fans for their support and encouragement, promising to continue to give his all for the team and the city of New Orleans.
Overall, Dejounte Murray’s candid statement after the Pelicans vs Clippers game reflected his dedication to his team and his determination to succeed in the face of adversity.
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Josh Weinfuss is a staff writer who covers the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL at ESPN. Josh has covered the Cardinals since 2012, joining ESPN in 2013. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and a graduate of Indiana University. You can follow him via Twitter @joshweinfuss.
On third-and-2, trailing 30-20 in the fourth quarter, Murray scrambled for a 4-yard gain. Had Arizona failed to get a new set of downs, the Cardinals would’ve likely punted. Instead, six plays later, Murray took off on a designed run to his right. Aided by a perfectly executed blocking scheme, he was able to score, facing pressure only at the goal line.
Then, on third-and-5 with 0:22 left, Murray made the split-second decision to take off to his right when he couldn’t find anything open, running for 5 yards and getting the first down — setting up kicker Chad Ryland for a game-tying, 58-yard field goal to send them into overtime.
It was Murray at his rushing finest: He scored, improvised and beat guys to the edge. It’s the type of play that had the Cardinals on the cusp of the playoffs.
But as much as he tried to run and throw his team to a win Sunday, the 36-30 overtime loss to Carolina eliminated the Cardinals (7-8) from playoff contention. The team’s focus now turns to playing spoiler in their Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, NFL Network). If Los Angeles (9-6) loses, the NFC West will be determined by the Week 18 Rams-Seahawks game.
“He’s a nightmare to prepare for,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Murray. “He’s so dangerous because he can beat you in the pocket and then, obviously, if you lose a rush lane, he’s so explosive.”
Murray knows his legs add a dimension to an offense that — unlike in years past — doesn’t rely on them. He also knows he’s capable of making dynamic, game-changing plays when he runs.
But the 27-year-old’s challenge this season has been knowing when to use them.
“I think when you get the opportunity, you have to do it,” Murray said. “I had more opportunities [against the Panthers] to use my feet. I definitely would love to do that more, but I don’t make the opportunities.”
The past two seasons have been a major change from Murray’s first four seasons in the NFL under former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury. His offense, a version of the Air Raid, needed Murray’s legs to be a focal point instead of a bonus. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s pro-style scheme relies on a James Conner-led run game with Murray being the complementary player at times.
He is on pace for his fewest carries (71) but third-most rushing yards (518) in a season in which he has played at least 14 games. Murray has played 15 or more games in a season only three times in his six-year career: 2019, 2020 and 2024. In 2020, Murray ran 133 times for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns through 16 games.
And his career high of 7.3 yards per carry this season is proof that his runs are about quality, not quantity.
“When I’m running, it just happens,” Murray said. “It’s not something that I can go out there and force. I wish I could, but it’s not. When you see me taking off, it’s just kind of natural flow of the game, but I believe it does open things up.
“Obviously when you can run the ball well, it opens everything up.”
AMONG HUNDREDS OF Murray’s plays this season, two exemplify how effective he is when he decides to make something happen with his feet — and they couldn’t be more different.
In Week 5 at the San Francisco 49ers, Murray showed off his speed. It was first-and-10 at the 50-yard line during the first quarter, and Murray took the snap in shotgun from the left hash and faked the handoff to Conner. After seven Niners crashed the line, Murray kept the ball and took off to the right, where he found an opening and was off. He hit a speed of 21.27 mph, the fastest speed for a quarterback in the past seven seasons, according to Next Gen Stats.
He knew he would score at the 44-yard line when he put his left arm up, pointing to the end zone.
“It is not many times you could do that in the NFL,” Murray said. “But to be able to finally hit a long run was good. It was fun.”
Then there was Week 8 at the Miami Dolphins. Early in the second quarter with Arizona down 10-0, Murray took the snap out of shotgun on third-and-6. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey came off the left edge untouched, but Murray stepped out of Ramsey’s way and began scrambling right, forcing Ramsey to nearly fall. Wanting to set his feet, Murray saw linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah waiting for him. Murray cut back left and found receiver Michael Wilson wide open in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
For some other quarterbacks, that kind of play would be a season highlight. For Murray, it’s commonplace.
“Kyler is a hard dude to tackle,” Ogbah said. “He’s real shifty, small so you can’t even really see him until you’re right next to him.”
When Petzing was hired in 2023, he went through all of Murray’s plays from his first four seasons, as well as a few from his college days at Oklahoma. Petzing learned Murray has developed a “really good feel” for how to be an impactful runner.
It’s the true balance a running quarterback needs to find, Petzing said, and Murray has found it as well as anyone. Petzing balances letting Murray be Murray — allowing him to make plays with his feet — but also making sure he doesn’t get hurt.
Coming into the NFL, Murray was labeled by some as a running quarterback. During his first four seasons in the league under Kingsbury, Murray’s running was a baked-in part of Arizona’s offense.
In the summer of 2021, Murray said, “Honestly, the way I see it is my legs should be a luxury” instead of being relied upon as a primary function for the offense to be successful. He felt they were a necessity in 2020, a way for Arizona to run its offense.
It has been different under Petzing. Murray has gone under center more to create internal conflict for a defense, making it harder to predetermine what Murray will do on any given play.
He sees his ability to make defenders miss as a “gift and a curse.”
“There are times where you leave too early and you wish you would’ve sat in [the pocket], but there’s times that you sit in there and you may take a sack when you felt like you probably should have gotten out,” Murray said. “That’s just part of playing the game, part of playing the position.”
Wilson described Murray’s ability to escape pressure and extend plays as an “elite trait” that all the best quarterbacks have.
“It makes our job easier,” Wilson said. “Because you can get sort of like free touchdowns and free explosive plays because he’s able to escape the pressure from the D-line and blitzes.
“Like my touchdown against Miami. I didn’t really do anything. I just found an open lane. I didn’t have to beat any coverage. And he just did a great job keeping his eyes on me.”
Of all the things Murray does well, Petzing said Murray’s ability to sense pressure is “one of the more impressive parts of his game.” Through his 23 games with coach Jonathan Gannon and Petzing, Murray has shown his coaches he not only knows when to leave the pocket but that he can make a play when he does.
“I trust him to make the right decision,” Gannon said.
TWO MINUTES INTO the Cardinals’ 41-10 win against the Rams in Week 2, outside linebacker Jared Verse came off the right edge, got by Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman and center Hjalte Froholdt to close in on Murray. The quarterback had faked a handoff to Conner on play-action and was rolling to his left — right into Verse’s path.
As Murray began to set his feet to make a pass, he glanced left and saw Verse getting by Froholdt while defensive end Kobie Turner and nose tackle Bobby Brown III were shedding their blocks. With most quarterbacks, a sack or a throwaway would’ve been inevitable.
Not with Murray. He thought about throwing over all three as they closed in on him, but then he thought better of it. Instead, he pulled the ball down and started to take off to his right. Verse chased Murray down, diving and wrapping up Murray’s left leg. Had Verse finished the sack, he would’ve dropped Murray for a 10-yard loss.
Instead, Murray escaped for a 6-yard gain.
“It sucks,” Verse said. “He’s just so quick, he’s so elusive. The way he’s able to just kind of realize where your body’s going, your momentum and everything like that. I’ve thought about it a lot since I had a couple moments with him where he was right there and just couldn’t wrap him up.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many opponents.
One Murray play can wreck the game, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. He saw it firsthand in Week 7 on “Monday Night Football.” On first-and-10 early in the fourth quarter, Murray went through his progressions but nothing was open. He scrambled to his left trying to buy more time, eventually tucking the ball and taking off to the left. Murray knew that if he could turn the corner and get by linebacker Junior Colson, he’d be gone — and that’s what he did en route to a 44-yard touchdown run.
Defenses know he can — and likes to — sit back in the pocket and throw the ball, but they can’t assume that’s what he’ll do, Verse explained. They also know that if the pocket collapses, he can get out of harm’s way.
“It puts a lot of stress on a defense,” Verse said.
Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. has seen defenses line up against Murray all season with a rush plan, which Murray has quickly forced them to abandon. Teams tend to start out with a more conservative approach to Murray until they can feel him out: Defensive fronts stay more gap sound against Murray, even if they have the personnel who can adlib and freelance well enough to make plays on their own, Johnson noticed.
“Them jumping out of a gap can lead to an explosive play really quick,” Johnson said. “You have to stay a little bit more within your rules and not try to make a selfish play that might be a big play.”
All of that, however, may not matter.
“It’s tough,” Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell said. “He’s up there in the best in the business making guys miss and we had a lot of opportunities on him. A lot of guys, unblocked, getting to him and he just makes a guy miss and throws the ball away. Those are hidden yardage, those are big plays, especially when it comes to momentum and the way the ball game goes. Those plays — you make them, it’s a whole different ball game.”
In those moments, Murray doesn’t see what his runs or his escapes do to a defense. Cardinals wide receiver Zach Pascal has heard defensive ends react with “Oh, f—,” after Murray escapes their grasp or gets away.
Murray sees the reactions when he watches the tape.
“Like palms up or just like the body language of like, ‘God, we did everything right and what are we supposed to do?’” Petzing said. “… It certainly is hard when you feel like you got him hemmed in, you got the right answer, you got a free runner, you got the leverage you want, all of a sudden you gave up a touchdown, you gave up an explosive player or he ran for a first down.”
NFL Nation reporters Sarah Barshop and Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.
Kyler Murray’s rushing ability has been a game-changer for the Arizona Cardinals’ offense this season. In his second year in the league, Murray has shown significant growth as a dual-threat quarterback, using his speed and agility to make big plays on the ground.
Murray’s rushing stats have steadily improved throughout the season, with his ability to extend plays and pick up first downs becoming a key weapon for the Cardinals. His elusiveness in the pocket and quick decision-making have kept defenses on their toes, opening up opportunities for the passing game to thrive.
Not only has Murray’s rushing improved his own performance, but it has also had a positive impact on the rest of the offense. Defenses are forced to respect his ability to run, which creates space for running backs and receivers to make plays. This has helped the Cardinals become a more balanced and dynamic offensive unit.
Overall, Kyler Murray’s growth as a rusher has been instrumental in the Cardinals’ success this season. His ability to make plays with his legs has added a new dimension to the offense and has made Arizona a more dangerous team to face. Look for Murray to continue to use his rushing skills to keep defenses guessing and help lead the Cardinals to even more success in the future.
