Ex-starting cornerback McWilliams leaves South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina coach Will Muschamp says backup cornerback Rico McWilliams has chosen to give up football. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina coach Will Muschamp says backup cornerback Rico McWilliams has chosen to give up football.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound McWilliams is from Hampton, Georgia. He started 18 of 33 games the past three seasons, including 10 of 12 last year. But the senior was listed behind sophomore Rashad Fenton on the depth chart for South Carolina's opener at Vanderbilt on Thursday night.

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Muschamp said Monday it was unfortunate that McWilliams left, ''but it is what it is.''

Muschamp, when asked about McWilliams departure, said that football was a hard, tough game and if someone did not like lifting weights or practicing they would be better off ''flipping burgers.''

Muschamp said sophomore Steven Montac would fill McWilliams' reserve cornerback role.