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‘Really dumb system’: Lane Kiffin, Manny Diaz react to unprecedented Maalik Murphy situation

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•12/10/24•

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Duke QB Maalik Murphy
James Guillory | Imagn Images

Duke starting quarterback Maalik Murphy is in the NCAA Transfer Portal and won’t play in the Gator Bowl.

ESPN broke the news Monday. The Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 ACC) take on No. 14 Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3 SEC) on January 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Duke head coach Manny Diaz addressed the unprecedented situation during a joint bowl press conference with fifth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday.

“I’ve got a ton of respect for Maalik Murphy,” Diaz said. “Our story as a program, it doesn’t happen this way without Maalik. He’s been everything we could have hoped for and more in his time with us. I’m excited for him and his future and I’m glad we were part of each other’s story. 

“If we don’t have him for the game, we’ll get Grayson (Loftis) and Henry (Belin, IV) ready to go. Feel good about both of those guys. Move on from there.”

Murphy threw for a school-record 26 touchdowns this season. He finished completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards. Duke’s nine-win regular season was its first since 2014. Murphy came to Duke from Texas, where he spent two seasons.

He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop. 

“It really is a really dumb system,” Kiffin said. “Think of what we’re talking about and what coach (Diaz) has had to address — a quarterback going into the portal. The season’s not over yet and there’s a free-agency window open. 

“Think about the NFL and getting ready for the AFC, NFC playoffs and postseason and players are in free agency already. It’s a really poor system. We just try to manage best we can through it. Hopefully some day it’ll get fixed.”

On the opposite end of the opt-out spectrum is Ole Miss and star quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Dart has been a record-setter in three seasons with the Rebels. He originally came over as a transfer from USC. 

Dart’s already opted-in to the Gator Bowl, as have a number of other draft-eligible Rebels. Actually, Kiffin believes Ole Miss is trending more towards zero opt-outs.

“This is all so new to us, the situation,” Diaz said. “We’ll look at what they do and our best way to match up. What they do on defense is outstanding. Historic performance in terms of creating negative plays. The chaos index is going to be off the charts. Whoever lines up at quarterback against these guys is going to have a tough day. 

“We’ll put a plan together, whether it’s one or two of them. It’ll be whatever we think gives us the best chance to win the game.”

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