Muschamp dishes on new NCAA rules, summer schedule and more

Eleven days ago, the NCAA Division I Council gave thumbs up to an early signing period in college football extending multiple days in December (likely to fall during the same 72-hour period in which JUCO players currently sign) and for moving up the official visit calendar, allowing prospects to take official visits between April 1 and June 30 of their junior year.

Previously, Division I schools were not allowed to bring in prospects on official visits until September of the recruit’s senior year.

Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp has a mixed reaction to those new rules – he likes the early signing period but frowns upon allowing juniors to take official visits before the start of their senior year.

“I’m fine with the early signing (period), but I don’t like having official visits in the junior year,” Muschamp told 107.5 FM The Game recently. “I know they do it in basketball and other (sports), but football is different. You’re talking about a signing class of 25 guys.”

Muschamp, whose brother Mike is a high school coach in the Atlanta area, said most high school coaches were strongly opposed to moving up the official visit calendar.

“There is not a high school football coach in the country that likes this,” Muschamp said. “My brother now has to get ready for spring practice and he’ll have a junior taking an official visit to South Carolina or wherever. None of them wanted this. So, I don’t understand it.”

Who supported allowing earlier official visit dates? Schools in the North and Midwest that play in cold weather in November and December.

Not surprisingly, the Big Ten lead the charge.

“I know the rule (change) was pushed by the Big Ten and teams in colder areas where they wanted to have official visits in April and May and stay away from the colder months,” Muschamp said. “But there is not a high school coach in the country in favor of this.”

NOTES

-- Muschamp said DT Javon Kinlaw and LB Eldridge Thompson are set to join the Gamecocks in May, enabling them to put three months of summer workouts under their belts before the start of fall camp. Muschamp said Kinlaw will play defensive tackle and nose tackle. “He’s a guy we need to come in and help us,” Muschamp said. “We have to get better up front. We had some young defensive tackles that made some progress.”

-- Muschamp said the Gamecocks offensive coaches are “extremely excited” about true freshman WR OrTre Smith, who was finally cleared for full contact for the final five spring practices. “He will certainly contribute for us this fall,” Muschamp said.

-- Since the April 1 spring game, the Gamecock players have lifted weights three days per week and taking yoga two days per week in an effort to improve lower body flexibility and agility. That’s important, Muschamp said, for defensive players especially. “Defensive players have to be able to bend their lower body, change direction and play in space,” he said. “It’s also about injury prevention. The more flexible you are, the less chance of injury. All our guys need to improve on that.”

-- Monday marked the final day of classes on the Columbia campus. Tuesday is ‘Reading Day’ and final exams begin Wednesday. During the final exams period (April 26-May 3), the Gamecocks will conduct voluntary workouts. Muschamp estimated about 75 percent of the players will participate in voluntary workouts.

-- Muschamp estimated about 40 players will stay on campus for Maymester. Those players will lift four days per week and get a jump start on the summer conditioning program. Full team summer workouts begin June 5, Muschamp said.

-- Most of the incoming freshmen except for four or five signees will join the program for Summer Session I. Four or five will be on campus for Summer Session II, Muschamp said. Right now, all freshmen are eligible, he added.

-- What does Muschamp want most from the new group of players ready to arrive on campus? Be in shape. He is less worried about weight. “If you’re in shape, you can learn and you can withstand the workouts and things we put you through. If you’re in shape, we’ll get you ready.”