The label says “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Red Murdock is not.
The Hopewell native heard his name called with the final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft when the Denver Broncos selected the Buffalo linebacker at No. 257 overall. It is a title that comes with a little humor and a lot of doubt, but if you have followed Murdock’s path, you know doubt has never stayed around him for long.
He has been proving people wrong for years.
Murdock’s journey started in the Hopewell area and took shape at Fork Union Military Academy, where discipline and toughness are part of the daily routine. That foundation showed up quickly once he reached Buffalo. He was not a headline recruit, but he became a cornerstone player.
By the time his college career ended, Murdock had built one of the most productive résumés in the country. He totaled 364 tackles, nearly 40 tackles for loss, and set an NCAA record with 17 forced fumbles. Those are not numbers that come from luck. That comes from effort, instincts, and a willingness to play through contact on every snap.
Over his final two seasons, he piled up nearly 300 tackles. Week after week, he found the football. Week after week, he delivered.
Still, when draft weekend came, his name did not come early.
Or in the middle.
It came last.
That moment will define some players. For Murdock, it may fuel him.
He steps into the league as a 6 foot 2, 230 pound linebacker built for downhill football. He plays fast, he plays physical, and he does not take plays off. Coaches value that, especially for players trying to carve out a role early on special teams and defense.
Nothing will be handed to him in Denver. That is the reality for a player taken in his spot.
But nothing has ever been handed to him.
From Hopewell to Fork Union, from overlooked recruit to record-setting linebacker, Murdock has built his career the hard way. The last pick in the draft is simply the next chapter.
And if his track record says anything, it is this.
He will not stay overlooked for long.
