Alabama lost its fourth player to the NCAA transfer portal since Nick Saban’s retirement when linebacker Shawn Murphy entered the portal Saturday night, sources told 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer.
Murphy spent the last two seasons as a reserve linebacker but saw some rotational snaps on defense. He was considered the top returning option at inside linebacker behind projected 2024 starters Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell.
With Murphy joining another inside linebacker Kendrick Blackshire in the portal, and with Trezmen Marshall declaring for the NFL draft, Alabama has only four returning scholarship inside linebackers. Lawson and aCampbell are joined on the depth chart by Jeremiah Alexander and Justin Jefferson, with two signed incoming freshmen in Justin Okoronkwo and Cayden Jones.
Murphy played in five games as a freshman and 13 games this past season, mostly on special teams. He was a four-star prospect in 2022 from Virginia ranked No. 142 nationally by 247 Sports.
He joins cornerbacks Dezz Ricks and Antonio Kite in entering the portal Saturday, one day after Kalen DeBoer was announced as Alabama’s coach. Wide receiver Isaiah Bond entered the portal Friday after it re-opened for 30 days following Nick Saban’s retirement.
Overall, Alabama has seen 21 scholarship players enter the portal since it initially opened in December. In addition, 12 players from Alabama’s 2023 roster have entered the 2024 NFL draft.
- QB Tyler Buchner — Notre Dame (Lacrosse)
- WR Ja’Corey Brooks — Louisville
- DL Anquin Barnes — Colorado
- OL Seth McLaughlin — Ohio State
- DB Earl Little Jr. — Florida State
- QB Eli Holstein — Pittsburgh
- WR Malik Benson — Florida State
- DL Monkell Goodwine — South Carolina
- DL Isaiah Hastings — Missouri
- DB Kristian Story — Kentucky
- OL Terrence Ferguson II – Florida State
- DB Jake Pope — Georgia
- TE Miles Kitselman — Tennessee
- RB Roydell Williams — Florida State
- WR Shazz Preston
- LB Ian Jackson
- LB Kendrick Blackshire
- WR Isaiah Bond
- CB Dezz Ricks
- CB Antonio Kite
- LB Shawn Murphy
