TENNESSEE: Vol offensive lineman Michael Munoz has decided to stay for his senior year. Munoz will work on his master’s degree in public administration this spring and his wife, Emily, has one year left in the school’s nursing program. Tennessee linebacker Kevin Burnett has decided to come back for his senior season. The Vols are waiting to hear from the NCAA on appeals for a sixth year of eligibility for center Chuck Prugh and offensive tackle Sean Young. Quarterback C. J. Leak has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. Coach Phil Fulmer said sophomore defensive tackle J. T. Mapu will not return next season because he will fulfill his obligations to participate in a two-year Mormon mission. He is expected to return for the 2006 season. Mapu also broke the jaw of freshman walk-on Ryan West during a December practice. West said Mapu has apologized for the incident. Fulmer named Tulane receiver coach Trooper Taylor and Jason Michael, who was on the Vol staff as a grad assistant, as his newest assistants. Taylor will coach running backs. Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Brandon Jefferies has left school. Junior linebacker Kevin Burnett has announced that he is returning for his senior season. He is projected as a third-to-fourth round selection if he declares for the draft. Strong safety O. J. Owens has transferred to Western Carolina.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Shane Beamer, the son of Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, has left Tennessee as a grad assistant to join Sylvester Croom’s staff to coach cornerbacks. Former Vol assistant recruiter Brad Pendergrass has also joined the staff. The Bulldogs will play seven home games next season for only the fourth time. They open the season Sept. 4 against Tulane. State also plays Division I-AA Maine and UAB. Titus Brown (6-4, 210), a linebacker from Hillcrest High in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has verbally committed to State.

LSU: Coach Nick Saban has accepted a raise and a contract extension from Tiger officials according to TigerBait.com. Saban will sign the highest paid contract in the nation soon worth an estimated $2.7-$3 million. Saban is 5-4 against top ten teams and 13-7 against ranked teams. Cornerback Corey Webster, who led the Tigers with seven picks, and defensive end Marcus Spears have decided to return for their senior years. Receiver Michael Clayton and quarterback Matt Mauck, 18-2 as a starter, has decided to forego their senior seasons in order to enter the NFL draft. Mauck finished third in school history in touchdown passes (37) and completion percentage (58%). Junior center Ben Wilkerson and junior defensive end Marquise Hill have decided to stay for their senior seasons. Four of the six Tigers who were exploring the possibility of going to the NFL are remaining for their final seasons. Marlon Favorite (6-3, 315), a defensive lineman from West Jefferson High, has verbally committed to the Tigers according to TigerBait.com. Early Doucet (6-2, 210), an athlete from St. Martinville, La., has verbally committed to the Tigers. He chose LSU over Miami. Doucet made official visits to Oklahoma and FSU. Ali Highsmith (6-1, 220), who is a former Miami signee, will enroll at LSU next week. Highsmith, a Miami Central High graduate, originally signed with the Canes. After failing to make a qualifying score on his SAT, Highsmith sat out and made the score, but he did not enroll at Miami, which made him eligible to be re-recruited.

OLE MISS: Chris Herring has resigned with the Rebels according to RebelGrove.com. He is the third mid-year junior college transfer to join Ole Miss this month. He was a junior college All-American last season at Northwest CC. Herring originally left the team because of differences with coaches over his playing time and position. He has three years to play two. Lamar Divens, an offensive lineman from Lincoln County High in Fayetteville, Tenn., committed the Rebels according to RebelGrove.com. He is scheduled to visit South Carolina and Tennessee.

ALABAMA: Linebacker Brooks Daniels had decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft according to BOL.com. He sat out last year due to an unspecified medical reason after leading the team in tackles in 2002. Receiver A. C. Carter, who has missed the past two seasons because his recovery from three surgeries to fix a tibia fracture, has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. He is currently the No. 4 career receiver at Alabama with 106 catches for 1,294 yards. Former Tide quarterback Brandon Avalos has left school and transferred to Shelton State to play baseball. Brandon Fanney (6-5, 260), a defensive end from Morristown, Tenn., has verbally committed to Alabama. He chose Alabama over Virginia and Virginia Tech. Jake Wingo (6-0, 200), a linebacker from Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) has committed to the Tide according to BOL.com. He is the son of former Alabama player Rich Wingo. Marcel Stamps (6-3, 190), a receiver from Brantley High in Ala., has committed to Alabama. He has yet to qualify. Demonte Bolden (6-5, 294), a defensive lineman from Tyner Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., said he had a good visit last weekend to Alabama according to BOL.com. Bolden is a Tennessee commitment. Alabama also made a big impression on Lorenzo Washington (6-5, 275), a defensive lineman from Grayson, Ga., according to BOL.com. Washington is between Alabama and Georgia.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Redshirt offensive lineman Jon Hall had decided to transfer according to GamecockCentral.com. Coach Lou Holtz suspended him following the winter semester due to a violation of team rules. Holtz has hired Rick Minter, the former Cincinnati head coach, as defensive coordinator, nearly two months after the search started. Former Gamecock quarterback Phil Petty and center C. J. Frye have joined the staff as graduate assistants. USC running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Roberts interviewed for a position on Bill Callahan’s staff at Nebraska this week, but changed his mind and stayed at USC. Roberts will probably have his $110,000 contract reworked. USC had consecutive top ten recruiting classes the past two years under Roberts. Holtz promoted grad assistant Dave Reaves, a former Appalachian State quarterback, to coach the defensive backs along with new secondary coach Ron Cooper.

FLORIDA: The Gators had several verbal commitments this week. Drew Miller (6-5, 295), an offensive tackle from Sarasota, verbally committed to the Gators. He chose Florida over Miami. Jim Tartt (6-3, 315), a guard from Crawfordville, Fla., also verbally committed to Florida. He was looking at FSU, Clemson, Iowa State and UCF. Two other verbal commitments were McIntosh Nicholas (6-2, 180), a defensive back from Immokalee (LSU and Michigan State, FSU and Pitt) and Tate Casey, a tight end/pitcher from Longview, Texas. Jason Watkins (6-7, 287), an offensive tackle from Lakeland Lake Gibson has verbally committed to Florida. He is also being recruited by LSU and Oklahoma. Lance Leggett, a receiver from Grace Prep in Arlington, Texas, has changed his mind and committed to Miami. He originally committed to Florida. Derrick Harvey, a defensive end from Eleanor Roosevelt High in Greenbelt, Md., is visiting this weekend according to GatorBait.net. His five visits are Maryland, Ohio State, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia. Gator assistant coach Mike Locksley has ties to Harvey when he was at Maryland. Markus Manson (6-1, 195), a running back from Tuscaloosa, Ala., told GatorSports.com that he is still committed to the Gators. Dawayne Grace (6-2, 180), a defensive back from Jacksonville Florida’s Ed White High, verbally committed to Florida according to the Florida Times Union. He visited FSU last weekend and also considered Miami. Keith Rivers (6-3, 224), a linebacker from Lake Mary, Fla., verbally committed to Southern California.

GEORGIA: Demiko Goodman (6-4, 185), receiver from Newnan, Ga., verbally committed to the Bulldogs over the weekend according to UGASports.com. Ramarcus Brown from Tri-Cities High, is supposed to have committed to the Bulldogs, but he is now back to his original commitment to Oklahoma (UGASports.com). There are a lot of questions about where Brown is heading. Rising junior receiver Bryan McClendon might be moving back to cornerback (UGASports.com). Brandon Lang (6-5, 225), a defensive end of Tucker, Ga., has verbally committed to Georgia (UGASports.com). Defensive end David Pollack has announced his intention of returning for his senior season. Pollack needs six sacks to break Richard Tardits’ school record of 29. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has been honored as the nation’s top college football assistant coach by being named the winner of the Broyles Award, named for former Arkansas coach and current athletic director Frank Broyles. Chester Adams (6-4, 315), an offensive lineman from Luverne (Ala.) High (coached by Mike DuBose), has verbally committed to Georgia. The Class 2A offensive lineman of the year chose Georgia over Auburn and Alabama.

FLORIDA STATE receiver P. K. Sam stunned the coaching staff by announcing he was turning pro according to Warchant.com. He was critical of the development of the Seminole offense. He has signed with agent Pat Dye, Jr. Sam caught 50 passes for 735 yards and five scores. A. D. McPherson signed a two-year contract with Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Seminole quarterback Fabian Walker is transferring to Valdosta State (Warchant.com). The Blazers have five underclassmen at the quarterback position. Redshirt freshman Wyatt Sexton is the only scholarship quarterback behind Chris Rix. The Noles are hoping to add quarterback recruits Xavier Lee from Daytona Beach Seabreeze and Cornelius Ingram from Hawthorne. They would also like to sign Xavier Carter from Palm Bay High. In two weeks, the Noles have their biggest recruiting weekend when they have the annual banquet. At that time they are scheduled to entertain Kenny O’Neal, a speedster from Oakland (Calif.) Skyline. He will visit Florida this weekend after already visiting Georgia and Oregon. O’Neal originally lived in Savannah, Ga. Reserve linebacker Nate Hardage has asked for his release in order to enroll at Valdosta State. In three games last year, he made two tackles.

MARYLAND has a verbal commitment from Mack Frost (6-5, 240), a defensive end from Spring Valley High in Columbia, South Carolina. Florida, Auburn, N. C. State, South Carolina and Virginia have offered him.

CLEMSON: Receiver Derrick Hamilton, the team’s career leading receiver, is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft. He is projected as a second round pick. Coach Tommy Bowden advised him to stay in school. Michael McIntosh (6-2, 180), a receiver from First Coast High in Jacksonville, Fla., has verbally committed. He is a friend of Tiger safety Brandon Croley. FSU coach Bobby Bowden came to First Coast yesterday to try to persuade McIntosh to go to FSU. Dorell Scott (6-4, 300), a defensive tackle from Ridge View High, has committed to the Tigers according to TigerIllustrated.com. He was being wooed by South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and Alabama.

GEORGIA TECH has a commitment from Calvin Johnson (6-4, 210), a receiver from Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek High according to the AJC.com. He chose Tech over Georgia. His teammate Andrew Gardner (6-6, 245) chose Tech over Wake Forest.

NORTH CAROLINA: John Gutekunst, a former assistant at South Carolina, has been hired as the Tar Heel defensive coordinator.

ACC NEWS: The ACC will not have a title game in 2004 because a deal could not be worked out to have Boston College join the league until 2005 according to the AJC.com. The NCAA Management Council voted 17-7 to turn down an ACC proposal that would allow the league to have a game with 11 conference members. NCAA rules require 12 members in order to have a title game.

MIAMI cornerback Antrel Rolle, a third team All-American, said he will return for his senior season. Miami Northwestern linebacker/defensive end Romeo Davis (6-2, 205) has committed to the Canes according to CaneSport.com. He has visited Indiana, and plans to visit FAMU and Western Illinois. Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski resigned Monday to take a position with the Cleveland Brown staff and coach Butch Davis (CaneSport.com). One of the leading candidates to replace him is quarterbacks coach Dan Werner. He was the offensive coordinator for the past three years. Another candidate according to CaneSport.com is former UM graduate assistant Mario Cristobal, who is on the Rutgers staff. Joe Joseph (6-3, 270), a defensive lineman from Orlando, Fla., has committed to Miami over Florida CaneSport.com). LSU defensive backs coach Tim Walton has spoken to Larry Coker about the Miami secondary coach vacancy according to the Miami Herald.

UCF assistant coaches are the highest paid in the state according to the Orlando Sentinel. The Golden Knight staff is getting paid $1.1 million. The former UCF staff under Mike Kruczek was paid $485,000. UCF offensive coordinator Tim Salem and defensive coordinator Lance Thompson each make $190,000. FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews was paid $175,000 and offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden made $118,000 last season. Florida offensive coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher and defensive coordinator Charlie Strong were each paid $160,000. UCF head coach Georgia O’Leary is rumored to be making $700,000.

MORE RECRUITING FROM RIVALS.COM

FRED BLEDSOE (6-4, 280), a defensive tackle from Arkansas, has narrowed his final choices to Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Arkansas.

DUMAKA ATKINS (6-4, 280), a guard from Sarasota (Fla.) Booker High is visiting FSU this weekend and Michigan next weekend.

FRED DAVIS, a receiver from Toledo, Ohio, has postponed his announcement that he was expected to give Thursday. He is expected to choose from Ohio State, USC, Miami, Ohio State and Florida. His coach said the fact that offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski left Miami had an influence on his decision to wait.

BRIAN BROHM (6-2, 200), a quarterback from Louisville Trinity, has been contacted by Nebraska, but the 2003 Mr. Football probably won’t visit the Cornhuskers according to KentuckySportsReport.com. He has already visited Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee and Notre Dame.

WILLIE WILLIAMS (6-2, 220), the No. 1 rated outside linebacker from Miami City Carol, according to Rivals.com, visited FSU this past weekend. He will visit Miami on Jan. 23. Williams is also very interested in Auburn.

KENNY INGRAM (6-5, 190), a safety from Orlando Edgewater, visited FSU this past weekend. He has visited FSU and Miami and will visit Georgia in two weeks.

J. R. BRYANT (6-0, 160), a defensive back from Miami Killian, could be wavering on his Miami commitment after visiting FSU this past weekend.

CHRIS ZELLNER (6-3, 220), an athlete from Sarasota, Fla., is looking at Florida, Clemson, Tennessee, Ohio State and Maryland.