At NFL Combine, former players show support for Will Muschamp
It wasn’t hard to find supporters of new South Carolina coach Will Muschamp at the NFL Combine.
“That’s my guy right there,” said Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, who was recruited to the Gators by Muschamp and is expected to be a first-round selection in this year’s draft.
“Nothing bad to say about him at all,” Hargreaves said. “All he ever did was look out for us, look after his players, and I wish him the best of luck at South Carolina.”
Muschamp was fired after Hargreaves’ sophomore year at Florida, but he believes his former coach will have more success at South Carolina.
“Without a doubt,” he said. “Sometimes in life things just don’t work out for you. We had two rough years, a lot of injuries the first year, but sometimes things just don’t work out.”
Hargreaves also remembers Travaris Robinson fondly. Robinson was Muschamp’s defensive backs coach at Florida and will be the defensive coordinator at South Carolina.
“He taught me a lot of things about football and more so about life,” Hargreaves said. “Some of the things he told me didn’t really make sense when I was a freshman and a sophomore, but when he left and things started happening, I was like, ‘OK, that’s what he meant.’ He had a big impact on my game and taught me a whole bunch of things about football and about life.”
Auburn cornerback Jonathan Jones played for Muschamp during his senior season.
“He’s good.” Jones said. “He’s a real high-energy guy. He’s a great coach. I enjoyed it. I really think he helped my game and progressed me a lot.”
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn, a friend of Muschamp’s, said was “certainly not surprised” Muschamp got a second chance to be a head coach.
“I know the relentless recruiter that Will is, and I know how important that part of the game is to him,” Quinn said. “I know for he and his staff, he is absolutely going to put the work in. In the college game, that’s where it starts in terms of the relationships that you build recruiting. He’ll get off to a great start.”