Tennessee Titan & former Fort Hays star dies

July 30, 2012|By Heather Williams | Eyewitness Sports

HAYS, Kansas — The Fort Hays State community is morning the loss of one of the brightest stars to ever set foot on the Lewis Field Stadium turf.

OJ Murdock died in his hometown of Tampa, Florida from what police believe was a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

Officers found Murdock unresponsive in his car in front of his former high school in Florida on Monday morning.

Murdock played for the Tigers in 2009 and 2010 and set Fort Hays States records for receiving yards and yards per catch in a season and was all time second in touchdowns scored. He was was a Don Henson All-American, second team all MIAA and an All-District selection.

Murdock was selected to play in the East West Shrine game after his senior season and invited to the NFL Combine. That lead to a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans.

But Murdock injured his Achilles early in training camp and missed last season as he rehabed. He missed the first two days of Titans Training camp this season for what the team said was personal reasons.

Fort Hays State did not release an official statement but said their thoughts and prayers are
with OJ's family in this difficult time.

The Tennessee Titans released the following statement on Monday:
"We are shocked and saddened to hear ofO.J. Murdock's death this morning. In his brief time here, a number of our players, coaches and staff had grown close to O.J., and this is a difficult time for them. He spent the last year battling back from an Achilles injury as he prepared for this year's training camp. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they try to cope with this tragedy."

Murdock spent two season at South Carolina, but was dismissed from the team after an off the field incident. He then played one season at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi before transferring to FHSU.

Orenthal James Murdock was 25 yrs. old.

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