Shawn Murphy’s Quest: Achieving Health, Growth, and a Major Role at South Carolina

It’s time for Shawn Murphy to step up as the new linebacker for South Carolina.

As a redshirt junior, the former standout from Manassas, Virginia, joins a Gamecocks linebacking unit in need of a fresh start, replacing its top three players. At the same time, Murphy is focused on advancing his own development as a player.

In a recent interview on 107.5 The Game’s Gamecock Club Hour, Murphy shared why he chose South Carolina: “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 explained. “And I think South Carolina really embodied all those factors. There is also opportunity there, 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. I think that was very important to me in making the decision.”

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 230 pounds, Murphy began his college career at Alabama, where he joined Nick Saban’s team as the No. 6 linebacker and No. 65 overall prospect in the class of 2022.

During his redshirt freshman season in 2023, Murphy saw action in all 13 games, registering three tackles while contributing on special teams and as a reserve defender.

However, after Saban’s sudden retirement, Murphy transferred to Florida State, which had just completed an undefeated regular season. Though an offseason injury slowed his progress, Murphy finished the season strong, playing in the Seminoles’ final four games. He recorded 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.

In the latest chapter of his journey, Murphy entered the transfer portal once again and joined South Carolina last month, hoping to unlock his potential in Clayton White’s defensive system, where he’s expected to contribute immediately.

“He’s very aggressive with his linebackers and his defense as a whole,” Murphy said of White’s approach. “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 two years of eligibility left, Murphy is ready to take on a larger role, and he’s clear about the first step: staying healthy. A hamstring injury nearly derailed his entire season at Florida State, so Murphy is determined to prioritize his physical condition.

“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 physical preparation is only part of the equation. Murphy also emphasizes the mental side of the game.

“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.”

Murphy will get his chance to prove he’s ready for a bigger role when the Gamecocks begin spring practice next month.