2008 (Senior)
Cornerback Armando Murillo was a key performer in the Nebraska secondary in each of his two seasons in the Cornhusker program. The Florida native played in all 25 games over the past two seasons with 24 career starts.
Murillo finished his career with 16 pass breakups and 114 career tackles and his play in 2008 was a key to a much-improved Nebraska defense. The 2008 Huskers finished second in the Big 12 in total defense, allowing more than 125 fewer total yards per game and also ranked second in the conference in passing yards allowed per game.
Murillo was the anchor of a young group of Nebraska cornerbacks in 2008 and was the team leader in pass breakups with nine, while ranking among the team leaders in solo tackles. Murillo started the final 12 games of the season and had five games with five or more tackles, including a season-high eight against San Jose State. Murillo had his first career interception against New Mexico State and returned the pick 57 yards. Murillo also had six tackles in that contest and made seven tackles against Virginia Tech. At Iowa State, Murillo had five tackles and recovered a key third-quarter fumble.
2007 (Junior)
In a secondary that returned three veteran corners, Murillo was the only cornerback to be in the starting lineup every week. He finished fourth on the team in tackles with 71 stops, while his 43 solo tackles ranked second for the Huskers. Murillo also tied Cortney Grixby with a team-high seven pass breakups.
Murillo had at least three tackles in every game in 2007, including eight games with five or more tackles. He opened the year with four tackles each in wins over Nevada and Wake Forest, while recording a pass breakup in each contest. Murillo made a season-high nine tackles against Iowa State, then had at least six tackles in each of the final six games with eight vs. Oklahoma State and Colorado. Murillo had seven stops each against Texas and Kansas and made six tackles, including two for four yards in losses in a 73-31 rout of Kansas State.
Before Nebraska (Robinson HS/Eastern Arizona CC)
Murillo had a standout two-year stint at Eastern Arizona Community College in Thatcher, Ariz. He helped Eastern Arizona to a 7-4 mark in 2006, by intercepting three passes and making about 30 tackles, while teams generally threw to the other side of the field.
In his first season in 2005, Murillo earned first-team All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association. He helped Eastern Arizona to a 6-4 record by recording seven interceptions, including two that he returned for touchdowns. Murillo was ranked among the nation’s top 40 junior college prospects by both Rivals.com and SuperPrep Magazine.
Murillo was a standout high school performer at Robinson High in Tampa. Murillo was a two-way player for Mike DePeu at Robinson High, playing wide receiver and defensive back. Murillo chose Nebraska after also visiting Arizona State and West Virginia, and he also received offers from Oklahoma and Louisville among others.
Personal
Murillo was born on Feb. 1, 1986, and is the son of Facunda Arenas. His brother, Javier Arenas, is a junior defensive back for Alabama, and Murillo is a cousin of NBA star Gilbert Arenas. Murillo is majoring in sociology, and is on track to graduate in May of 2009. He has participated in Nebraska’s annual team hospital visits.
Murillo's Career Statistics
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Tackles
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Fum.
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QB
Year
G/S
UT
AT
TT
TFL
Sacks
C-R
BK
PBU
PI
Hry.
2007
12/12
43
28
71
3-4
0.5-2
0-0
0
7
0
0
2008 13/12 35 9 44 2-1 0.0-0 0-1 0 9 1 1Totals
25/24
78
37
115
5-5
0.5-2
0-1
0
16
1
1
Single-Game Highs
Tackles?9 vs. Iowa State, 2007
Solo Tackles?7 vs. Iowa State, Colorado, 2007
Tackles for Loss?2 vs. Kansas State, 2007
Pass Breakups-1, seven times
Interceptions-1-57 vs. New Mexico State, 2008