University of Texas at San Antonio placekicker Jaffer Murphy delivered one of the most eye-catching performances of the college pro day circuit last week, clocking a 4.50-second 40-yard dash and nailing a 70-yard field goal in front of NFL scouts.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter highlighted the standout showing Sunday on X, formerly Twitter, posting a photo of Murphy alongside the details. The tweet quickly went viral, drawing more than 860,000 views and sparking widespread discussion about the 24-year-old’s freakish athleticism for the position.
Murphy, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior from Marion, Iowa, ran as fast as 4.47 in some unofficial timings, according to reporters on site. He went 12 of 13 on field goals overall, including the 70-yarder that cleared the uprights despite a crosswind. He spoke with representatives from every NFL team in attendance.
The performance comes after a winding path to FBS football. Murphy was a standout soccer player in high school at Marion, earning two first-team all-state honors and posting big goal totals as a junior (46 goals, 13 assists). He continued on the pitch at the collegiate level, appearing in 11 games with three starts at Florida Gulf Coast University before transitioning to football.
At NCAA Division II Lake Erie College in 2024, Murphy earned D2CCA Second Team All-Region and First Team All-G-MAC honors. He made 13 field goals, including four from 50-plus yards, set a school record with a 60-yard kick and went 17 of 17 on extra points while adding 28 touchbacks on 45 kickoffs.
After spring practices with North Carolina in 2025, Murphy transferred to UTSA. He served exclusively as the Roadrunners’ kickoff specialist in all 13 games, booming 88 kickoffs for 54 touchbacks and recording two tackles on coverage. His place-kicking opportunities were limited; he made his lone extra-point attempt in a blowout win.
Murphy’s pro day numbers — elite straight-line speed combined with leg strength that exceeds the current NFL record of 68 yards — have teams viewing him as more than a traditional kicker. Scouts have floated creative possibilities, including fake field goals or using his speed and build (more like a wide receiver or defensive back) in special-teams packages under the NFL’s evolving kickoff rules.
Multiple teams have expressed interest. One report indicated the San Francisco 49ers “really like” what they saw. Other clubs, including the Eagles, were among those meeting with him.
Kickers are rarely selected in the NFL Draft. Most enter as undrafted free agents and must prove themselves in training camp. Murphy’s combination of verified athletic testing and range, however, sets him apart from typical specialists.
While a Day 3 selection would be a surprise, Murphy has a realistic shot at hearing his name called late in the process or emerging as one of the top priority undrafted free agents. His ability to handle kickoffs at a high level while flashing game-changing field-goal distance could make him a versatile special-teams weapon worth investing in.
