The NCAA is now targeting DeMarco Murray. The organization is sure in a mood to flex its muscles, and they just did it with the notice of allegations against the Michigan Wolverines. Now, the NCAA is turning its attention to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Murray, an NFL legend who played for the Sooners during college, returned four years ago to his alma mater as the running backs coach. But now, his school’s audit has put him in hot water.

According to recent reports, the NCAA announced that DeMarco Murray will face a “one-game suspension for recruiting violations.” The running backs coach is accused of “impermissibly contacting 17 prospects,” with the university itself discovering the violations during a regular audit. And yeah, they’ve self-reported to the NCAA.

According to them, Murray sent 36 texts and made 65 phone calls when such contact was not allowed. While coaches were permitted to contact recruits via calls and texts during COVID-19, Murray claims he was unaware that this waiver had expired, leading to the violations.

In addition to the suspension, Murray will likely face a hefty $5,000 fine. This setback comes at a not-so-great time for the Sooners, who are about to enter the SEC conference as newbies.

It’s still unclear which game Murray will miss. Still, with the Sooners’ season opener against Temple Owls on August 31 fast approaching, head coach Brent Venables is expected to address the issue in a press conference. And until then, the NCAA is sure to hunt all its prey. In fact, what they did with Murray is not new; they have been vigilant of recruiting violations for a while now.

DeMarco Murray & Co. in hot waters

The NCAA has been nailing down the violators for a while, and last year was no exception. Like DeMarco Murray, Michigan’s staff also faced suspension for their recruitment violations. The Wolverines’ staffers were found to have contacted recruits impermissibly during COVID-19 when recruiting activities were supposed to be on hold. As a result, the then-OC Sherrone Moore was handed a one-game suspension, causing him to miss the season opener. Plus, head coach Jim Harbaugh self-imposed a three-game suspension.

The NCAA’s rules go beyond contacting recruits during dead periods. Teams are also not allowed to offer recruits money or make false promises. Also, recruiting activities must occur only within the designated periods. Now, Murray isn’t the only one facing consequences for such violations. The Oklahoma Sooners are also feeling the impact, with a three-week recruiting ban expected to take place sometime between December and March. Head coach Brent Venables has also been scrutinized for not correctly overseeing his assistants, although he will remain on the sidelines for now.

The Sooners have stated they are “working with the NCAA to manage the review and reach a conclusion.” Until then, it’s quite an intense waiting period for the Sooners!