McWilliams, who started 18 games over the past three seasons, had returned to the team last week after missing several days of the preseason to help family dealing with flooding in Louisiana.
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“I’ve got a pretty good idea of where we’re headed”, head coach Will Muschamp said Monday.
Muschamp also announced Monday that senior cornerback Rico McWilliams has chose to give up football and freshman wide receiver Christian Owens will transfer. With McWilliams’ departure, Chris Lammons and Rashad Fenton are the likely starters at cornerback for South Carolins with junior Jamarcus King listed as the team’s current third corner and a potential nickelback.
He announced senior cornerback Rico McWilliams had chose to give up football, while adding redshirt freshman receiver Christian Owens was transferring to be closer to home.
In three seasons with the Gamecocks, Rico McWilliams has recorded 66 tackles, two for loss, and seven pass deflections.
For the Gamecocks, who went just 3-9 in 2015, Thursday’s opener is a critical game to begin Muschamp’s second SEC head-coaching job.
Muschamp said sophomore Steven Montac would fill McWilliams’ reserve cornerback role.
Muschamp told reporters he and his staff are still evaluating freshmen Brandon McEllwain and Jake Bentley and senior Perry Orth, but so far, no one has distanced themselves from the other.
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“We’ll be a running back by committee”, Muschamp said. Senior linebacker Larenz Bryant will continue to be out extended time with a hamstring injury.
