Red Murdock’s forceful fist forced the 15th and most memorable fumble of the University at Buffalo linebacker’s career.
The loose football that bounced outside of UB’s red zone brought Murdock within one forced fumble away from Khalil Mack’s NCAA record. It also kept Eastern Michigan out of the end zone during a Mid-American Conference battle Saturday at UB Stadium.
There is no doubt a 16th forced fumble would be memorable for Murdock. It will be hard to forget No. 15, though. Not just for how hard the ball bounced, but because of the situation, forcing EMU into a field goal to set up a Buffalo (3-3, 2-0 MAC) comeback and end its two-game losing skid.
“The last couple of weeks, we let our offense down, from my perspective,” Murdock said. “The offense gave up the only turnover of the game. We owed it to them to get a stop right there. We should have kept all points off the board, but it was definitely great to limit them to three.”
Chasing Khalil Mack
Murdock has had his sights on Mack’s 16 forced fumbles. He is finally within range.
Murdock’s punch-outs are powerful and poignant. His sound technique is intentional. It is the result of thousands of practice reps. And it has brought Murdock here, to 15 career forced fumbles following UB’s 31-30 overtime win against EMU. It was his fourth forced fumble of the season.
A 16th forced fumble for Murdock would tie the preseason All-American grad student with Mack, the Los Angeles Chargers linebacker who set the record during his Buffalo tenure through 2013 before being selected fifth overall in the ensuing NFL draft.
Murdock has at least six games left to reach 16. The Bulls are on a bye this week and will visit UMass on Oct. 18.
“Our defense just didn’t quit. It was really cool to watch,” said UB kicker Jack Howes, whose 50-yard field goal forced overtime against EMU. “I can’t say much about what they did, because I’m not a real defensive guy, but I know that they were fighting their tails off.”
Buffalo football doesn’t have a defining image. It doesn’t have a history of sustained success. But in recent years, it’s cultivated a hard-work culture that’s bearing fruit in one position group: the linebackers. Now, Red Murdock prepares to cement UB football’s national status.
Murdock’s first forced fumble
Murdock was a redshirt freshman when he forced his first fumble.
It came during Buffalo’s road loss against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in September 2023. He ended the season with four forced fumbles.
In 2024, Murdock led the nation with a UB single-season record seven forced fumbles. His redshirt sophomore season culminated with a performance worthy of Defensive Player of the Game honors during the Bahamas Bowl, when he recorded two forced fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown in a win against Liberty.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Murdock entered 2025 with 11 forced fumbles. He did not pry his first football loose until Buffalo’s fourth game. Murdock forced two fumbles that game, recovering one, against Troy. He forced his third fumble against a UConn offense that hadn’t committed a turnover. Murdock kept the streak alive with his punch-out against EMU.
“We cause a fumble, and how many times would you see that thing sitting there where some defensive player scoops it and goes the distance the other way?” Buffalo coach Pete Lembo said.
All-American season
Murdock is living up to his preseason honors.
So far in 2025, the preseason All-American fourth-teamer leads the MAC with 70 tackles. Murdock’s seven TFLs are tied for second in the conference. He also has two sacks.
Murdock was named to many watch lists this offseason, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award. He also is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. An All-MAC first-team linebacker in 2024, Murdock’s 156 tackles trailed only teammate Shaun Dolac in the country.
Dion Crawford joined Murdock in UB’s linebacker corps. since Dolac left for the Los Angeles Rams. Crawford is having a breakout season, but tweaked his groin in practice and exited the EMU game. Lembo planned to “shut him down” during the bye.
Mitchell Gonser filled in for Crawford and recorded nine tackles. Gonser helped Murdock stop EMU quarterback Noah Kim at the goal line during the ferocious forced fumble. Murdock recorded 17 tackles in the game.
“Definitely a lot of bumps and bruises going into this game,” Lembo said. “We really need this bye. … We will hopefully be closer to where we need to be to going to UMass in two weeks.”
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Marquel Slaughter
College sports reporter
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