Five recruits who orally committed to South...

Five recruits who orally committed to South Carolina chose other schools on national signing day last week because of Coach Joe Morrison’s death, Gamecock recruiting coordinator Charlie Lyle said.

“Obviously he was a big, big reason (the recruits selected South Carolina),” Lyle said.

Morrison, South Carolina’s coach for the past six years, died of a heart attack Feb. 5, three days before high school players could sign letters of intent with colleges.