Muschamp: South Carolina football program not far off

COLUMBIA, S.C. >> Will Muschamp believes the South Carolina is not that far from being the same kind of football program that went 33-6 over a three-season stretch from 2011-13.

He’s been working the last month to return the program to those lofty levels.

“We’re not far off. We need to continue to work and understand where we are and where we want to go,” Muschamp told The Associated Press on Monday.

Muschamp was hired Dec. 6 as the Gamecocks coach, replacing Steve Spurrier who stepped down in mid-October with South Carolina struggling.

Interim coach Shawn Elliott guided the team through the last half of the season, finishing off a 3-9 campaign with five consecutive defeats.

Muschamp understands the gap he needs to bridge to get the Gamecocks back competing for the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. To that end, he’s spent much of his time since being hired recruiting and building a staff.

The latest addition to his staff his co-offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who handled those duties in Muschamp’s last year as Florida head coach. past season as for the Browns.

Roper will share coordinator duties with Bryan McClendon, who was Georgia’s passing game coordinator, receivers coach and, after Mark Richt’s firing, its interim coach for the Bulldogs’ 2417 win over Penn State in the Taxslayer Bowl last week.

Muschamp is aware of those critical of his offense late in his Florida tenure and believes he’s got the right assistants in place to avoid that issue at South Carolina.

“I hire coaches to do a job,” Muschamp said. “Offensively, I just Roper spent this an offensive assistant NFL’s Cleveland want to be on the same page philosophically of what we want to do. Regardless of what anyone says, the offensive coordinator calls the plays. We’ve got a good staff and I’m excited about their experience.”

Mississippi WR Treadwell, OT Tunsil will enter draft

Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell is heading to the NFL. So is left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Both players declared for the draft just three days after starring in the team’s emphatic Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma State. Treadwell caught three touchdowns passes and Tunsil scored the only touchdown of his career on a trick play, catching a lateral and running for a 2-yard score.

The school released separate statements announcing both players’ decision hours apart on Monday.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Treadwell leaves Ole Miss with several school records and led the Southeastern Conference with 1,153 yards receiving this season. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Tunsil anchored the Rebels’ offensive line for three seasons.

Neither player’s decision is surprising: Both are widely considered a first round pick three years after being among the nation’s top recruits.