Quinton Murray ready for bigger role in Texas Southern secondary

Quinton Murray had a list of all the things that were important to him during the college football recruiting process while he was at Pearland.

Arizona State and Central Florida seemed to check initial boxes.

• Great academics
• Great football opportunity
• A place where he could grow as a man and a football player

But the list of needs-to-haves expanded the moment Murray encountered Texas Southern coach Cris Dishman at a mega camp for defensive backs. It only took a few drills for Dishman to see Murray had all the intangibles to excel at the next level, and a quick conversation with the former Oilers cornerback for Murray to realize exactly what he needed in a college coach to reach the heights he wanted.

Suddenly, the money and opportunities that Arizona State and UCF could offer didn’t matter.

“Really, what helped me was Coach Dishman being a corner and playing in the league (NFL),” Murray said to the Defender. “I was really big on getting all of the information, getting all of the technique, and all of the skills.

“It was really the teaching for me. I wanted to play for a coach who was from the league. I really have aspirations of going to the league. Having a coach who played in the league was a big difference in my recruiting process.”

Just as expected and needed, Dishman pushed, challenged, taught, and put Murray into situations where he could be successful last year, as a true freshman. But the training wheels have come off for the 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback who is fully expecting a breakout season in 2026.

“I feel like I bring the length, I bring the play-making ability and everything really – anything that you can think of in a corner,” said Murray, who was an All-District performer at Pearland High School. “And I can really play any position on the field. I bring all of the versatility in a DB role.”

While more measured in his assessment of how special a season Murray could have with the season fast approaching, Dishman didn’t hold back this past spring when talking about expectations for the rising sophomore.

“He is a stud. He is a guy. I’m expecting him to make All-SWAC,” Dishman said during spring practices. “He has great ball skills, and he can run. He is what you want as a corner. He can play the field, and he can play the boundary.”

What jumps out immediately is his prototype stature, athleticism, and ability to make plays. Murray played in 11 games last season, but not as a starter. Dishman dropped him strategically into positions where he could make plays and learn. And Murray responded, totaling 19 tackles, nine solo, three pass breakups, and one interception as a freshman.

Murray believes that gaining that experience, getting more comfortable with the speed of the college game, and the increased physicality were huge.

“It was very helpful,” he said. “They put me in games where we might be tied up, and we are counting on these last six seconds of the game like the PV game. They put me in games in the last little minutes of the game and really counted on me to bring it home. So that really helped me out as a young guy.”

Dishman saw Murray’s talent last season and gave him more opportunities when warranted.

“He wasn’t ready,” Dishman said of why he didn’t play Murray as much early last season.  “I only play guys who are ready, and he wasn’t ready last year.

“This year, he is doing everything we are asking him to do. So he is probably ready this year.”

Dishman says Murray’s size, athleticism, and understanding of the game have impressed him this fall camp.

“I can go on and on about what I like about him. But his football IQ is so high,” Dishman said. “I think it has to do with family upbringing. His dad used to coach, and I think that has a lot to do with it.”

Knowing that his coaches have confidence in him has meant everything to Murray as he looks to prove them right this season.

“It feels good to have everybody at TSU supporting me, knowing that I’m going to be the next big guy, putting the weight on my shoulders,” Murray said. They know I’m a young guy and know what I can do out there and do it. I can take care of the business and go out there and win, and bring PBUs (pass breakups) and things like that.

“I know that they are really counting on me this year, and hopefully I can have a big year this year, and I’m counting on myself to have a big year this year.”