Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have some extra film work to do, as the Rebels prepare for their Gator Bowl matchup against Duke.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday night that Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy will not play against the Rebels on Jan. 2, 2025 in Jacksonville as he has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Murphy is coming off his first season at Duke, after joining the Blue Devils last offseason from Texas.
Duke starting QB Maalik Murphy plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he told ESPN. Murphy led Duke to a 9-3 record and set the school record with 26 touchdown passes. He threw for 2,933 yards in his lone season at Duke. pic.twitter.com/kCJE1TttiN
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 10, 2024
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The 6-foot-5 quarterback led the Blue Devils to a 9-3 overall record this season, the most regular season wins for Duke since 2014 per ESPN. He won the starting quarterback job for Manny Diaz’s squad out of training camp over sophomore Grayson Loftis and redshirt sophomore Henry Belin IV.
He also had a record-breaking season statistically himself, throwing for a program-record 26 touchdowns and a career-high 2,933 yards. Murphy was ranked the No. 6 quarterback in the transfer portal last season according to his 247Sports Composite rankings profile.
As for who may start under center against Ole Miss at the Gator Bowl, Lotis and Belin IV are expected to compete for the starting job according to The Fayetteville Observer’s Rodd Baxley.
As previously reported by the Clarion Ledger, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart will play in the Gator Bowl vs. Duke. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Dart, who is expected to declare for the NFL draft, ranked the No. 9 quarterback in this year’s NFL draft.
Ole Miss (9-3 overall, 5-3 in SEC play) will kick off against Duke in the Gator Bowl at 6:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 2, 2025 inside Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Maalik Murphy enters transfer portal ahead of Gator Bowl vs Ole Miss
