Murray shapes up

NORMAN, Okla. -- While preparing for his final season at Oklahoma, DeMarco Murray resorted to violence. He's giving peace a chance, too.

Murray, a senior from Las Vegas who is expected to carry the No. 7 Sooners' running game, is ready for just about anything after a variety of workouts during his first healthy offseason since arriving in Norman.

Murray has tried mixed martial arts training as a way to stay in shape. He's been doing pilates, is just starting on yoga and has been testing stretches recommended to him by NFL players.

Anything that could help Murray stay on the field, he is willing to try. Although he has missed only a handful of games during three seasons with the Sooners, Murray enters his final year with an unwanted reputation of being injury prone.

"I guess it's more of a mindset for me. Just do the little things (to) prepare myself to stay healthy and stay on the field, stay practicing and not taking days off," said Murray, who attended Bishop Gorman High School. "It's really not a goal for me. That's something I can't control."

The injuries that have sidelined Murray stand out for being freakish and untimely. In 2007, he dislocated his kneecap while trying to recover an onside kick in the Sooners' late-season loss at Texas Tech that knocked them out of the national championship picture.

The following year, he ruptured a tendon in his left hamstring during the Big 12 Championship Game and missed the chance to play for the BCS title. Last year, he found himself among a slew of Sooners sidelined by injuries -- this time an ankle -- during a 8-5 season.

"It's not like he's got bad luck because he's special and he's got a lot of good luck," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "He's made as many great plays, one of the flashiest players, one of our touchdown leaders in school history and got a chance to be the all-time guy."

Indeed, Murray enters his senior year on pace to break Oklahoma's career records for touchdowns held by 1969 Heisman Trophy winner Steve Owens and all-purpose yards set by Hall of Famer Joe Washington. It would take a monster season -- 1,648 yards -- but he is even within range of 1978 Heisman winner Billy Sims' career rushing mark.

"I think anything is possible, but I'm not looking forward to breaking anybody's records or anything like that. That's not one of my goals to do," Murray said. "Whatever I do whenever I'm out there, I'm going to play hard, as hard as I can, and just play like it's my last down."

For the first time in his career, Murray will be the featured back for the Sooners. He spent his first three seasons splitting carries with Chris Brown, who came on late in 2006 after Adrian Peterson was hurt and while Murray was redshirting.

Murray then matched Peterson's Oklahoma freshman record with 15 touchdowns -- 13 rushing and two on kickoff returns -- in 2007 and set the school record for all-purpose yards in 2008 as the Sooners reached the BCS Championship Game.

But Murray missed the postseason both years with injuries that seem to overshadow how much he's already accomplished.

Now, coach Bob Stoops wants Murray to have a Peterson-type workload -- as long as he can do so without breaking down.

"We're counting on him to have a big year," Stoops said. "He's got great experience, so hopefully we can give him the opportunity of a few more snaps, a few more carries and a few more touches even out of the backfield to give him opportunities for those big plays."

Murray has spent the offseason experimenting with different ways to get ready for his last go-round.

He and safety Quinton Carter spent about three weeks in Las Vegas doing MMA training at a friend's gym. He left the 2½-hour workouts feeling as tired as he had ever been, but his conditioning and stamina improved.

"I didn't do any running or anything," Murray said. "That's all I did was jump ropes and boxing and lift, and I came back in great shape."

Back in Norman, he traded the octagon for something more serene. Strength coach Jerry Schmidt introduced him to pilates, and his first yoga class was Tuesday. Along with stretches passed along by NFL players, Murray said he can feel himself loosening up earlier.

"I'll try anything to keep me flexible, to keep me on the field," he said.