FLORIDA: The Rivals.com top recruit Derrick Williams (6-0, 189), an athlete from Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt, considered Florida as one of his schools, but he verbally committed to Penn State. Jonathan Garner (6-4, 210), a quarterback from Daytona Beach Mainland (Fla.) is no longer committed to Florida after a conversation with new Gator Coach Urban Meyer, who told him that he wants a dual-threat quarterback instead of a pure pocket passer. Garner, who attended the ES Sports Elite 11 Camp, has visits set to South Carolina, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. He might consider LSU and N. C. State. Josh Portis (6-4, 200), a quarterback from Woodland Hills (Calif.) has committed to Florida. He is the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has rebuffed any rumors about him going to either Notre Dame or Clemson. The Gators appear to have no academic casualties. UF linebackers coach Bill Miller will not be joining Ron Zook’s staff at Illinois. He refuses to say what happened between him and Zook. Quarterbacks coach Ed Zaunbrecher, tight ends coach Dwayne Dixon and defensive line coach Red Anderson have yet to find other jobs. During scout team drills, redshirt freshman receiver Mike McIntosh was involved in 80% of the plays. (GatorBait.net and Gainesville Sun)

TENNESSEE: Junior linebacker Marvin Mitchell and senior receiver Derrick Tinsley, both who are injured, will not play in the bowl game because they failed to pass the SEC six-hour rule. Tailback Jabari Davis will also miss the bowl game because of academics. Because Jason Allen is out with a shoulder injury, Robert Boulware, Jarod Parrish and Corey Campbell are taking all the reps. Midterm enrollees Demonte Bolden, defensive tackle of Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy and receiver Josh Briscoe will both be working out with the team in Dallas. Freshman tailbacks Ja’Kouri Williams and Arian Foster, both redshirted this season, have been impressive during practice. Tennessee has had full contact during practice and two major scrimmages. Junior defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona, who led the SEC in tackles with 18.5, said he will return for his junior season. The Vols have lost four of their last five bowl games. Tailback Cedric Houston needs just 57 yards in the Cotton Bowl go give the Vols two 1,000-yard rushers on the season. Gerald Riggs, Jr. has 1,005 yards and Houston has 943. Tennessee has never had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. The only two tandems with more yardage than Houston and Riggs are Cedric Benson and Vince Young of Texas and Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown of Auburn. An extension for Vol Coach Phillip Fulmer is on hold until after the bowl game. Fulmer makes $1.78 million per year, the third highest in the SEC next to Meyer and Nick Saban. Vol officials are looking at giving the assistant coaches multi-year contract deals for the first time. This is becoming a trend for coordinators (for example-VanGorder at Georgia and Jimbo Fisher at LSU) (Volquest.com)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Dave Wommack, the former Arkansas defensive coordinator, has been hired as the secondary coach. Tyrone Nix, the defensive coordinator at Southern Miss, has been named the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at South Carolina. Nix has coached with John Thompson and Wommack. This past season, Southern Miss allowed an average of 376 total yards including 200 passing yards and 24.8 points per game. Rick Stockstill, who will coach tight ends, squashed rumors that he was going to N. C. State to replace Doc Holliday, who went to Florida. Stockstill is considered one of the top recruiters in the Southeast. Offensive lineman Jabari Levey is returning for his senior year instead of declaring for the NFL. Tommy Beecher (6-2, 205), a quarterback from Concord (N.C.) has committed to USC. He is the 10th commitment for the Gamecocks. His only other offer was from Richmond. Taylor Rank (6-0, 182), a running back from Evergreen High in Vancouver, Wash., has committed to USC. His father, Matt, was a receiver at Georgia Tech when Gamecock Coach Steve Spurrier was an assistant coach there. (Gamecockcentral.com)

OLE MISS: Head coach Ed Orgeron is putting together his staff. Secondary coach Jay Hopson has left Oxford to replace Tyrone Nix as the defensive coordinator at Southern Miss. Orgeron is expected to hire former Indiana defensive coordinator Joe Cullen, former Texas A & M special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum and possibly former New Orleans high school coach Frank Wilson. He is looking for an offensive coordinator. The possibilities are Lane Kiffin from USC, former Rebel offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, and Tulane offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo. Orgeron said he will take over the defensive coordinator duties and implement a 4-3 scheme. They ran a 4-2-5 the past three seasons. Marcus Green (5-10, 170), a running back from Bastrop, La., has committed to Ole Miss. Also committing is Austin Divinity (6-0, 190), who is a cornerback from Hinds County Ag. School (RebelGrove.com and Clarion-Ledger)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Johnny Carpenter (6-3, 280), an offensive lineman from Citronelle (Ala.) has committed to the Bulldogs. Southern Miss, UAB and West Virginia have offered him. James Lewis (6-2, 210), a receiver who was at Venice (Calif.) before transferring to Frankton, Texas, has committed to the Bulldogs. (Bulldogblitz.com)

LSU: No decision has been reached on Coach Nick Saban going to the Miami Dolphins. The NFL team has made an offer. Miami had to interview a minority candidate (Art Shell) before Saban could be hired. Saban is in the first year of a seven-year contract that pays him $2.3 million this season, rising to $3 million by 2010. Dolphin team president Eddie Jones attended LSU. Saban denied a report out of the Miami Herald Monday that LSU assistant coach Derek Dooley told Dolphin assistant coach Bill Lewis that he will be part of Saban’s staff at Miami. Dooley also denied the report. Saban has been deluged with e-mails from Tiger fans encouraging him to stay. They have also sent his favorite Little Debbie treats to his doorsteps as further encouragement. (Advocate.com and Tigerbait.com)

AUBURN: Interim President Ed Richardson has hired Tiger senior associate athletic director Jay Jacobs to replace David Housel as the athletic director. Coach Tommy Tuberville has agreed in principle to a new seven-year contract that would pay him close to $2 million per year. With starting linebacker Antarrious Williams out with an injury, freshman linebacker Montavian Collier, who played in just five games this season, should see more action. Left tackle Marcus McNeil, a three-year starter for the Tigers, is considering moving on the NFL after his junior season. Zach Kutch (5-9, 160) a kicker from Milton (Fla.) has committed to Auburn. He is commitment No. 13. Jerraud Powers (5-9, 175), the state of Alabama’s top cornerback from Decatur High, has committed to the Tigers over Alabama. (Auburnsports.com and Al.com)

ALABAMA: Quarterback Spencer Pennington said there is no truth to the rumor that he is going to give up football in order to concentrate on baseball. Pennington is healthy going into the Music City Bowl. Coach Mike Shula said reserve quarterback Marc Guillon has recovered from a back injury and might play against Minnesota. Three early members of the 2005 signing class--quarterback John Parker Wilson, offensive lineman Drew Davis and cornerback Lionel Mitchell, a cornerback transfer from Hargrave Military Academy-- are practicing. Wilson has been one of the most impressive of the youngsters. Redshirted linemen Cody Davis, B. J. Stabler and Antoine Caldwell have also caught the attention of the coaches. Clarence Ward (6-1, 175), a safety from Pensacola, Fla., has committed to the Tide. Ward was a recent defensive most valuable player of an all-star game where he intercepted two passes and returned one for a score. Mikell Simpson (6-0, 185), a running back from Pennsylvania, is down to Virginia and Alabama. He has made official visits to Michigan State, Alabama, Virginia and UCLA.

(Bamaonline.com and Al.com)

ARKANSAS: Darren McFadden (6-1, 203), a running back from Little Rock (Ark.) Pulaski Oak Grove, continues to be the biggest verbal commitment for the Hogs. Brandon Barnett (5-9, 188), a running back from Texarkana (Ark.), is expected to commit to the Hogs in the near future. (Hawgsports.com)

GEORGIA TECH: Quarterback Reggie Ball accounted for three scores in the Yellow Jacket’s 51-14 win over Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl. Ball, who made his 25th straight start, completed 12-of-19 passes for 207 yards and two scores. Ball, the most valuable player, ran one touchdown himself. Tech scored 35 points in the first quarter. Tailback P. J. Daniels ran 17 times for 19 yards. The Tech defense held Syracuse to only 51 yards on 31 carries. Reserve quarterback Pat Carter has left the team. Tech has eight straight winning seasons. (Jacketsonline.com)

VIRGINIA: Cav defensive coordinator Al Golden said in a statement last week that he was staying at Virginia. He was rumored to be going to Notre Dame. (WagonOnline.com)

MIAMI: Reserve quarterback Kirby Freeman, who will be battling Kyle Wright in the spring for the starting quarterback job, had surgery this week to repair an old high school injury. Tailback Tyrone Moss is rehabbing his left knee and is questionable for the bowl game. In the team award banquet last week, the most improved offensive player was Talib Humphrey and the most improved defensive player was end Thomas Carroll. Coach Larry Coker is hoping to have tight end Kevin Everett (dislocated left shoulder) back for the bowl game. There are rumors that junior tailback Frank Gore could leave early for the NFL. Coker said Gore is not a high draft choice right now, but would be next year. He also denied that Pitt had contacted for permission to talk with defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. (Canesport.com and Miami Herald)

CLEMSON: Demerick Chancellor (6-1, 185), an athlete from Edison High in Miami, Florida has committed to the Tigers. Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Syracuse, N. C. State, Pitt, North Carolina, West Virginia and Rutgers have offered him. (TigerIllustrated.com)

FLORIDA STATE: Dorian Munroe (6-0, 180), a safety from Coral Reef (Miami), Florida is commitment No. 9 to FSU. Florida, Auburn, Georgia and N. C. State have offered him. Charlie Graham (6-3, 230), a tight end from Madison County was commitment No. 10. George Henshaw, the assistant head coach of the Tennessee Titans, has denied any rumors about him returning to FSU as an offensive assistant following the season. This has been an injury filled season for the Noles. Twenty players from the two-deep depth chart missed a game or games this season. Sophomore defensive lineman Clifton Dickson might be the most improved player on the team according to Bobby Bowden. (Warchant.com and Tallahassee Democrat)

WAKE FOREST: The Demon Deacons have signed a two-game agreement with to play Nebraska. They will travel to Lincoln in 2005 and the Cornhuskers will come to Groves Stadium in 2007.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FL.
HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM AND SAMSPORTSLINE.COM.