
Unity
Reed
High
School
senior
Shawn
Murphy
is
the
recipient
for
the
prestigious
Butkus
Award®
as
the
best
high
school
linebacker
in
the
nation.
Murphy
received
news
he
was
the
recipient
of
the
award
in
a
surprise
Zoom
presentation
by
Dick
Butkus,
the
famous
linebacker
who
instituted
the
award,
accompanied
by
an
in-person
presentation
of
the
trophy
by
Butkus's
son
Matt.
Murphy
is
the
only
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
(PWCS)
student
to
ever
receive
this
award.
When
asked
what
it
felt
like
to
wake
up
and
find
out
he
was
the
best
of
best
in
the
nation,
Murphy
said,
"It's
a
great
feeling
to
know
that
all
of
my
hard
work
is
paying
off,
and
that
everything
that
I'm
doing
right
now
to
reach
my
goals
is
working."
Murphy
continued,
sharing
that
from
his
experience
playing
football
for
PWCS,
he
plans
to
take
his
effort,
intensity,
and
relentlessness
when
he
plays
for
the
University
of
Alabama
next
year.
Murphy
served
as
a
four-year
starter
and
as
team
captain
for
the
Unity
Reed
football
team,
which
had
a
successful
season
finishing
6-6
in
the
playoffs.
The
committee
that
selected
Murphy
as
the
winner
had
this
to
share
about
him,
"Shawn
Murphy
plays
the
game
with
the
same
intent
that
Dick
Butkus
once
did.
Shawn
is
a
knockback
hitter
with
outstanding
speed,
athletic
ability,
and
range.
He
has
been
a
force
since
he
stepped
on
the
field
in
high
school,
has
represented
Unity
Reed
with
class
and
been
a
pillar
of
the
program.
This
year's
high
school
class
was
stronger
and
deeper
than
any
in
recent
memory,
with
many
very
deserving
candidates
and
a
strong
influx
of
future
linebackers."
Winners
for
the
Butkus
Award®
are
selected
by
a
committee
that
"focuses
on
the
qualities
that
defined
Butkus'
career:
toughness,
on-field
leadership,
competitiveness,
football
character
and
linebacking
skills."
Murphy
has
abundantly
demonstrated
the
skills
required
of
a
Butkus
Award-winner
according
to
Unity
Reed
head
football
coach
Carroll
Walker,
who
shared,
"Shawn
Murphy
has
demonstrated
leadership
as
well
as
respect
for
faculty
staff
members,
teammates
and
coaches."
For
more
information
on
the
Butkus
Award®
or
selection
criteria,
please
visit
their
webpage.