What Will Muschamp said about Jamyest Williams’ choice to leave South Carolina
South Carolina football coach Will Muschamp addressed the media on Tuesday and gave his thoughts on the news that junior defensive back Jamyest Williams has entered the transfer portal and will leave the Gamecocks four games into the season.
Williams’ decision after four game means he will be able to take a redshirt season and preserve a year of eligibility under NCAA rules implemented in 2018. It also comes within a day of Houston announcing two players, including senior quarterback D’Eriq King, will sit out the rest of the year, redshirt and come back in 2020, highlighting the ways the rule, mostly intended to help freshman development, can be used by older players.
Williams was USC’s fifth-leading tackler with 16 total stops but had not recorded any interceptions or breakups.
Here’s a quick rundown of all Muschamp said about the move:
On if he was surprised by Williams’ decision:
He just wants another opportunity, wants a better, another situation. So we support him 100%, loved coaching Jam, and we’re moving forward.
On whether new players will have to step up in his absence or current contributors will have to step up more:
The guys that have been playing, we’ll just continue to roll with the guys we’re playing.
On whether Williams’ decision to leave is part of a concerning trend of older players deciding to leave in the middle of the season to preserve redshirts:
It’s something you just got to live with, it’s part of where we are in college football right now.
On if any other players have approached him about transferring after four games:
No
This story was originally published September 24, 2019 at 1:51 PM.
