For the second time since the calendar flipped from 2018 to 2019, Washington has lost a member of its secondary who still has eligibility remaining.
On Twitter, Byron Murphy confirmed that, "[a]fter much thought & discussion with my family, I have decided to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.” Murphy is actually a redshirt sophomore who had two years of eligibility he could’ve used.
The cornerback joins UW safety Taylor Rapp, who announced his decision to declare early for the draft last week.
Thank you Husky Nation! Excited for this next chapter! pic.twitter.com/c9v27BOXsl
— Byron Murphy JR (@byronmurphy) January 7, 2019
Murphy led the Huskies in interceptions this season with four and pass breakups with 13, finishing fifth in tackles with 58 for good measure. He started all 14 games in 2018 after starting six (first three, last three) during a 2017 season in which he missed seven games because of injury.
This season, Murphy was named first-team All-Pac-12 and earned consensus second-team All-American honors.