New Gamecock LB Shawn Murphy Ready to Make an Impact
It’s a fresh start and a big opportunity for Shawn Murphy.
The former Alabama and Florida State linebacker is now at South Carolina, stepping into a defense that needs new leaders after losing its top three linebackers. A redshirt junior with two years of eligibility left, Murphy is eager to prove himself in Clayton White’s defensive scheme—and he knows the time is now.
“I know one of the main things I was looking for was to be developed and to have a great culture with great people,” Murphy said during a Gamecock Club Hour interview on 107.5 The Game. “And I think South Carolina really embodied all those factors. There is also opportunity here, and I was just happy with what I saw on my official visit—just talking to all the coaches. The staff, how intentional they are, and how everything is the same way I saw it when I first visited them. That was very important to me in making the decision.”
From Alabama to Florida State to South Carolina
Murphy’s journey has been anything but typical.
A 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, he was a highly sought-after recruit out of Manassas, Va., ranked as the No. 6 linebacker and No. 65 overall prospect in the 2022 class. He started his career under Nick Saban at Alabama, playing in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman—mostly on special teams—while recording three tackles.
Then, Saban’s shocking retirement led Murphy to the transfer portal, where he landed at Florida State—a team fresh off an undefeated regular season.
An offseason injury set him back, but Murphy still managed to appear in the final four games, totaling 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.
Now at South Carolina, Murphy believes this is where he can unlock his full potential.
Why Murphy Picked the Gamecocks
Murphy was drawn to Clayton White’s aggressive defensive style—one that allows linebackers to play fast and instinctively.
“He’s very aggressive with his linebackers and his defense as a whole,” Murphy said. “And he kind of lets his players play ball, and I really like that. Another thing I noticed was he has a lot of things that could be built around the team he has. He has a lot of tools to be able to use, and I feel like it’s going to be really hard for people not to fit in this scheme. I think I could fit a lot of things he does, and that’s what made it real easy to decide here as well.”
With a wide-open depth chart and a clear path to playing time, Murphy sees this as his chance to become a key piece of the Gamecocks’ defense.
Staying Healthy & Seizing the Opportunity
The biggest focus for Murphy heading into spring ball? Staying healthy.
A hamstring injury nearly derailed his 2023 season, and he’s determined not to let that happen again.
“I think the biggest thing for me is, one, focusing on staying healthy, taking care of my body, and doing a lot of prehab and rehab,” Murphy said. “Even when my body’s feeling great, I think that’s the best time to really prep your body for everything you’re doing. I think that’s very important.
“But another thing is just focus—just focus on myself. Stack days, worry about the little things, improve the little things, and just learn the knowledge. Learn the language they speak and play my best ball. That’s it. Just connect with people as much as I can, give as much knowledge as I can, and take in as much knowledge as I can. Nothing crazy—just do the little things.”
With spring practice around the corner, Murphy’s chance to prove he’s ready for a major role is coming soon. Now, it’s go time.
