EXCLUSIVE: Los Angeles Rams Defensive Lineman – 'If You Don’t Know The Call, Just Play Ball'

The Los Angeles Rams former fifth-round pick out of NC State sat down with LAFB for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from Elizabethtown, North Carolina to the NFL, what it was like sharing a locker room with Aaron Donald, and why being a dirty work guy is exactly what he prides himself on.

Los Angeles Rams DL Larrell Murchison What first got you into the game of football? Since I was a toddler, my mom and dad put me and my twin brother in the rec program in Elizabethtown.

We started in the yard, then moved to flag football and eventually tackle football.

Ive been playing ever since.

Growing up in a small town, did you feel like you had to work harder to get noticed? Absolutely.

I didnt grow up around five-star athletes.

I had to grind harder than the average guy just to be in the conversation.

That chop wood mentality stayed with me through Louisburg College and beyond.

You committed to Georgia but ended up at NC State.

How did that come about? I was committed to Georgia, but on signing day, they realized they had over-signed and didnt have room.

NC State offered me on the last day, and Coach Doeren made me feel like I belonged.

My family got to come to games, and it turned out great.

What did going to the Senior Bowl mean to you? That was a huge honor.

Ever since I saw Justin Jones get his invite in 2017, I said I had to play in that game.

Playing with guys who are now in the league showed me that I truly belonged and boosted my confidence heading into the NFL.

What was your welcome to the NFL moment? In my third game against the Vikings, I got double-teamed from the 40-yard line all the way back to the logo.

I didnt fall, but I ended up in the secondary.

Thats when I realized this was real.

After waiting almost three years for your first NFL sack, you recorded 2.5 in your Rams debut.

How did that feel? It felt like a movie.

I walked out of the tunnel, and it felt like I was in a Madden game.

Coach Henny told me, If I didnt know the call, I should just play ball .

That gave me the freedom to be myself, and I had the game of my life.

How do you define your game as a defensive lineman? Im not the flashy player you see on film doing something crazy.

Im the guy who puts his head in the fan every play.

I work in the trenches, disrupt plays, and do the dirty work that doesnt always show up on the box score.

Thats who I am.

What do you think people underestimate about playing defensive line? They underestimate how hard it is to fight in the trenches.

Its dirty work.

People see the sacks and highlights, but they dont see the grind on every play.

How do you manage your weight during the season? I try to come into camp around 305 or 307 pounds.

By December, I drop to about 282 or 283.

Its tough keeping up weight when youre constantly moving and burning calories.

I focus on eating clean, but I do allow myself occasional cheat meals.

Whats your ultimate cheat meal? Oxtails, mac and cheese, yams, collards, fried chicken, and either sweet tea or lemonade.

Or sometimes a double cheeseburger and beef hot dog from back home in Elizabethtown.

Thats the best burger in the world.

Youve shared a locker room with legends like Aaron Donald.

What stood out about his preparation? Aaron Donald is all about routine.

His consistency and respect for the game show why hes the man.

Your My Cause My Cleats honored your twin brothers battle with cancer.

How did his journey affect you? When my brother was diagnosed, I was in shock.

While he was undergoing chemo, I was playing the best football of my life.

His strength and willingness to fight inspired me, and that inspiration carries with me every time I step on the field.

What did you learn from playing under coaches like McVay and Vrabel? Both coaches are incredibly smart and pay attention to the small details.

McVay remembers every play you could ask him about something from 2022, and hell tell you down, distance, everything.

Both taught me the value of situational awareness and how every little detail matters.

In a league where stats are king, how would you describe what you do on the field? I might only show up with two or three tackles on the box score, but that doesnt show the disruption I cause.

Im consistent, I attack the line of scrimmage, and I make sure I do the work that matters, even if it doesnt always appear in the stats.

Whats one coaching moment that instantly made you better as a player? Coach [Eric Henderson], for sure.

He helped me with hand placement, and after that, my hands were spot on.

Teammates even asked how I get them there every time.

It changed everything for me.

Whats something youve learned from football that people can apply to everyday life? You cant take anything for granted.

Whether its walking, laughing with your teammates, or just being able to show up every day, it can all be taken away in a second.

Football taught me to be present, stay consistent, and keep going no matter what.

This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission..

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