Where things stand between South Carolina, Clemson for talented local receiver

The in-state battle for four-star receiver Donovan Murph continues to heat up.

The Irmo standout has spent a lot of time at South Carolina and Clemson over the past month, including attending Saturday’s matchup between the two rivals. The Gamecocks defeated the Tigers, 17-14, on a late touchdown run by LaNorris Sellers and interception by Demetrius Knight.

“It was an awesome experience,” Murph said Monday before practice. “I got to see the best teams in the state go at it. I was just so glad to be there.”

It was the second straight week Murph attended a Clemson game. He went to the game against The Citadel on Nov. 23 for his official visit. The Tigers coaching staff’s pitch to him is being able to make an impact right away like Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore have been able to do.

Clemson has just one receiver commit so far for its Class of 2025.

“They told me I fit the mold at Clemson. That I would be the best fit for them and can do great things early. I can play alongside guys like TJ and Wesco,” Murph said.

Murph took his official visit to South Carolina for the Texas A&M game on Nov. 1 and made a couple visits there this fall. After his official visit to the Gamecocks, several crystal balls (predictions) on 247Sports site suggested that the Irmo standout will choose USC. Murph is a cousin of former South Carolina great Alshon Jeffery.

The Gamecocks have five receiver commitments for Class of 2025 but the addition of Murph would be another big get for Shane Bemaer and his staff.

“The message is still the same, come make an impact early and be a freshman phenom,” Murph said. “They tell me with me I fit what they are trying to do and keeping the Columbia guys at home. They have a great quarterback in LaNorris, a Heisman-caliber guy. They showed me they got a quarterback who can throw me the ball.”

The early signing period for high school football players is Dec. 4-6 but Murph doesn’t plan on signing then. He said he will announce his college decision on Jan. 2 at the nationally-televised Under Armour All-American Game in Florida and will sign in February.

Murph said he plans to tell the school he chooses before the Under Armour announcement and that it will likely come down to the Gamecocks and Tigers.

“It is neck and neck right now,” Murph said of USC and Clemson. “I still talk to Colorado and Ole Miss but South Carolina and Clemson definitely going the hardest with me being an in-state guy.

“It is going to be a tough decision but I have talked about it with family and prayed about it. I have a pretty good idea where I want to go.”

Murph, a junior, announced on Oct. 1 that he will graduate a year early and will enroll at college in June. Recruiting services rank him as a four-star prospect and 247Sports Composite rankings have him as No. 6 in the state for Class of 2025.

Murph has had a big junior season in helping the Yellow Jackets to the Class 5A Division II Lower State championship. Irmo hosts White Knoll on Friday and is looking for its first state appearance since 2006.

Murph has 85 catches for 1,155 yards and nine touchdowns. He had a pair of TD grabs last week against West Florence.