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Alabama assistant Preston Murphy, 'Roll Tide' Willie team up in video amid pursuit of Clifford Omoruyi

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•05/03/24•

AndrewEdGraham

Cliff Omoruyi
(© Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)

Alabama assistant men’s basketball coach Preston Murphy continues to tease a potential commitment from coveted Rutgers transfer center Cliff Omoruyi on social media. He kept up the antics with a new video on Friday.

In it, Murphy walks into his office to find “Roll Tide Willie” — he of internet fame for not caring about anything but the Tide — watching clips from the children’s cartoon “Clifford the Big Red Dog.” It’s not the only time Murphy has invoked the comically big and lovable cartoon hound in apparently posting about Omoruyi.

He’s previously posted an image of the cartoon dog with an Alabama hat pasted on and famous audio playing in the background asking “What the dog doing?”

Omoruyi, a 6-foot-11 senior, averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game this season for the Scarlet Knights.

Omoruyi is a former four-star recruit and was the No. 47 overall player in the nation from the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He was a key cog in the Scarlet Knights’ breaking their March Madness drought in 2021, making it to the Round of 32. 

Rutgers also made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2022, aided by the big man. However, they only made it to the NIT in 2023 and fell in the first round while also missing postseason play this past winter.

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Alabama has been closely involved with Omoruyi since he entered the portal. The big man has also been considering North Carolina, Kansas State and Georgetown, among other possible destinations.

Murphy’s first invocation of Clifford the Big Red Dog was a tad convoluted

Murphy posted a college basketball recruiting rankings list with a cryptic message inside.

Murphy told fans to start by zooming in on the bottom right corner, and if they follow the rest of the directions, it will lead them to the Alabama logo. Inside the logo sits Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Murphy posted this message shortly before Omoruyi visited.

Alabama has been active this transfer cycle after losing six players to the portal. The Crimson Tide brought in three newcomers, headlined by Chris Youngblood, who comes in as the No. 68 overall player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. Omoruyi would be the biggest splash yet for Nate Oats and his staff as Alabama looks to capitalize on last season’s Final Four run – the first in program history.

Former Auburn guard Aden Holloway and former Pepperdine guard Houston Mallette are also on their way to Tuscaloosa.