South Carolina Shifts Recruiting Focus as 2027 QB Prospect Justin Murphy Emerges
With top quarterback target Trent Seaborn now trending toward Alabama following his weekend visit, Shane Beamer and Mike Shula may need to adjust South Carolina’s recruiting board for the 2027 class. One name quickly gaining traction is Justin Murphy, a versatile athlete from the Atlanta area who’s determined to prove he belongs under center.
Murphy, a 6-foot, 194-pound junior, initially drew South Carolina’s interest as a defensive back, but he’s been persistent in his message to the staff — he wants to play quarterback.
“It started off as that they were recruiting me as a DB, then it switched to athlete, because I told them I wanted to play QB,” Murphy explained. “Now they are starting to look at me as a QB, so I’m just keeping my head in the right path. I just keep telling them I want to play QB, and my film has showed that.”
Murphy made his first visit to South Carolina last Saturday for the Oklahoma game at Williams-Brice Stadium, where he had the chance to meet key members of the coaching staff — including Beamer, Shula, and recruiter Marquel Blackwell.
“It went good being up there for the first time at Willy B Stadium,” Murphy said. “It’s a nice stadium. I was able to talk to Mike Shula for the first time, and I felt good talking to him. I talked to Coach Beamer a little bit before the game, just saying what’s up and greeting him. It was good seeing all the coaches, including Coach Blackwell.”
Blackwell first offered Murphy a scholarship in February — but for defense. Since then, Murphy’s persistence has paid off, as South Carolina’s staff, including Shula, is beginning to view him as a legitimate quarterback prospect.
“It’s in the works. They’ve been talking about it even more,” Murphy said. “They are starting to recruit me more for QB. Coach Shula told me what they look for in a quarterback — leadership, being able to hit open receivers on time — those are the main things.”
Murphy said the Gamecock staff likes his ability to move outside the pocket, throw accurately on the run, and his track-level speed, traits that fit well in South Carolina’s evolving offensive scheme.
“They just like the way I throw the ball and the way I’m able to move out of the pocket and create separation,” Murphy added. “They always talk about my track speed. That’s really the main thing.”
After watching South Carolina’s offense up close, Murphy said he can envision himself thriving in Beamer and Shula’s system.
“It fits everything, really,” he said. “I feel like the stuff (LaNorris) Sellers is doing, I can do the same thing. It fits perfect — it’s the kind of offense I’m looking for.”
At this stage, Vanderbilt leads the race for Murphy, largely because the Commodores are recruiting him specifically as a quarterback. He attended a summer camp in June, worked directly with quarterbacks coach Tim Beck, and returned for a game in late September. Appalachian State is also in pursuit, while Florida State and Auburn have shown interest in hosting him for upcoming visits.
“At this stage, I’m just enjoying the moments right now,” Murphy said. “It was my first time being up there (at South Carolina), and I had a good time. Hopefully I’ll talk to the coaches more.”
Murphy already holds an impressive offer list from his time as a defensive back, including Maryland, Duke, Syracuse, LSU, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Kentucky, UCF, SMU, and Kansas.
As South Carolina re-evaluates its 2027 quarterback options, Justin Murphy’s rise could come at the perfect time — just as the Gamecocks look to reload their offense and secure their future under center.
