In other words, the Crimson will essentially feature three defensive-back types in its defense, who can backpeddle in man-coverage just as effortlessly as they can pass rush. Of the three, though, none will have more responsibilities than Murphy.

“He’s doing a lot for us, basically playing three positions,” Doherty says. “I wouldn’t put that much on a player that I didn’t think could handle but I know he can. Being a former quarterback and the son of a football coach, he has that extra knowledge and we take advantage of it.”

“It’s made us a faster defense,” he adds.

Murphy’s transition back to the secondary leaves sophomore star Aaron Byrd, the projected starter there last spring when Murphy was moved to linebacker, as the odd man out of the starting mix in the defensive backfield. But Byrd doesn’t question the logic behind Murphy’s switch.

“Coach [Tim Murphy] said, ‘we won a championship with Niall at safety,” Byrd said. “’We’re going to win another one with him there.’”

How’s that for pressure? Then again, for a kid that was tough enough to endure daily needle injunctions starting at age 11, the weight of those expectations shouldn’t faze him. Adamopoulos, who describes Murphy as a “natural leader,” would not expect anything less.

“Sometimes when you have a star athlete, the rest of the kids will be jealous,” he says. “Not with Niall—he was loved by his teammates here. He was just one of those rare kids that you get to coach maybe one or two times in your life.”

--Staff writer Brian E. Fallon can be reached at bfallon@fas.harvard.edu