Allen native Kyler Murray selected 1st overall in NFL Draft

Allen native and Heisman winning quarterback Kyler Murray was selected No.1 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Murray is the second straight University of Oklahma Heisman winning quarterback to be selected first overall, following Baker Mayfield. Murray is also the 22nd Heisman Trophy winner to go first overall.

This will come as vindication for Murray, who picked football over baseball after signing a contract with a $4.66 million signing bonus as the ninth overall pick for the Oakland Athletics.

Murray is now the only player to ever be selected in the first round of both the MLB and NFL drafts.

The Allen-native had one of the greatest seasons of any college football player while leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff this past season.

Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and rushed for 1,001 yards and 12 scores in his only season as OU's starter.

He also never lost a high school football game, and won three state titles at Allen High School.

People in Allen held a watch party at Two Rows Restaurant. On Draft Night, the Allen High School faithful came out in force to see life change for a kid they watched grow.

“We’ve watched this kid for three years come and make such a big impact on our community,” said Two Rows owner Baine Brooks.

Jared Miller is the Allen High School Associate Principal. He says it was a journey he was just happy to be a part of.

“How special it is and how cool it is that we got to see him grow up,” Miller said.

So when the draft clock started, the anticipation could have rivaled that of Murray's close friends and family.

“That just tells you to look what's coming out of Allen, Texas,” Brooks said.

“I've had 20 years in education, and I've never seen one like him,” Miller said. “It was special.”

Along with Murray, there could be two other players from Allen - Greg Little and Bobby Evans - taken in the first round of the draft.