By Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia
08:10 12 May 2023, updated 08:10 12 May 2023
- Patrick Murtagh has been signed by the Detroit Lions
- NFL scouts were impressed by former AFL rising star
- Murtagh’s athleticism, punting and passing stood out
- Will look to follow path of fellow Aussie Jordan Mailata
NFL scout Will Bryce has seen some talented athletes in his time – so when he declared former AFL rising star Patrick Murtagh could succeed in the US, it carries a bit of sway.
The 23-year-old – previously on the books of the Gold Coast Suns – has signed with the Detroit Lions, following the same sporting path as former rugby league star Jordan Mailata.
Mailata’s story has made headlines in Australia and Stateside – the one-time South Sydney Rabbitohs prop played in the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, and the offensive tackle has signed a $64million contract.
Murtagh, who has been pencilled into play as a tight end, will get his shot at the big time after he was selected as one of 12 players for the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, which gives athletes from outside the US the opportunity to compete in the NFL.
And like many, Bryce likes what he sees in Murtagh, who was also a state decathlon champion in Queensland.
His movement, tracking and how Murtagh competed in contested catches saw plenty sit up and take notice, and the Lions swooped.
‘I think you could see how he played that game and I’ve watched very, very limited AFL, but you could see the physicality was there,’ Bryce told Fox Sports when reflecting on Murtagh’s performance at the combine, which is used by scouts to identify the game’s future stars.
‘You see Patrick enjoys the physical side. You could see he could jump, you could see he could play the ball in the air or go and high point, as we would say, as well as that he could track the ball really well.
‘The way that game [AFL] is played, it is so dynamic, it’s played in 360 degrees of space so I think that correlates really well to the tight end position where you have to track a ball, run and look over your shoulder.’
Further AFL traits – notably reaching for the loose ball and catching it at a high point – could prove to be decisive for Murtagh.
And if playing tight end doesn’t work out, Bryce is adamant the sporting rough diamond could end up a being back-up punter or long snapper.
‘Playing tight end is great, but if you could be a tight end and a back-up punter, even a backup long-snapper for punt and field goal, you become a very valuable asset,’ he said.
‘Pat can naturally throw a ball and pass a ball … so he has that natural ability to do the long snapping, he just needs coaching and some refinement and the same thing with kicking the ball out of his hands to punt if he needs to.
‘I think he’s got such a versatile skill set, that’s what we are excited about as well.’
Murtagh recently spent 10 weeks honing his skills at the IMG Academy in Florida, where he had the opportunity to work out with NFL superstar Odell Beckham Jr.
Murtagh – who was delisted by the Suns last year – described the experience at the IMG Academy as ‘surreal,’ saying it was a ‘memory that will stay with him forever.’
‘Detroit Lions bound,’ Murtagh wrote recently on Instagram as his opportunity began to sink in.
‘Beyond grateful for everyone that’s been part of this journey. To my team around me, friends, family and everyone else out there Thank you! Here is to us! We are going to Detroit.’