Former Florida State linebacker Shawn Murphy has committed to South Carolina through the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Murphy, who transferred to Florida State from Alabama last offseason, appeared in just four games during his lone season with the Seminoles and is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.
Murphy recorded 13 tackles in total and a season-high of five in the finale against in-state rival Florida. Injuries were a problem for the linebacker earlier in the season.
Murphy spent two seasons at Alabama, playing in 18 total games. He took a redshirt season, preserving an additional year of eligibility. In the 2022 season, he played five games, but since one of them was the Sugar Bowl against Kansas State, it did not count against his four-game maximum.
After head coach Nick Saban’s retirement, Shawn Murphy chose to enter the transfer portal. Initially, the goal was for him to be a key contributor to Florida State’s defense, which needed replacements following their strong 2023 campaign.
“I just wanted to come where I could make an impact and be a great teammate,” Murphy said on his transfer to Florida State before the season began. “And just find a new team to help go to the next level.”
Unfortunately, Murphy’s plan at Florida State didn’t come to fruition, leading him to enter the transfer portal once again. Now, he will aim to reach his potential under head coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.
Murphy played high school football at Unity Reed in Manassas, Virginia, where he was a four-star prospect. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that combines data from all four major recruiting media companies, he was ranked as the No. 65 overall recruit in the 2022 recruiting cycle.
Murphy is the eighth player Florida State has added through the transfer portal this offseason. However, the team has also lost 19 players to the portal. Despite this, FSU is currently ranked No. 17 in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.
