AUBURN: David Gibbs, who most recently coached the Denver Bronco secondary, has been named the new defensive coordinator replacing Gene Chizik. Prechae Rodriguez (6-4, 195), a receiver from Coffeyville CC in Kansas, had moved to Auburn, but he is back in Coffeyville taking a full load in order to transfer to Auburn in the spring.

Auburn signed 20 players. One of the top signees was Tray Blackmon (6-0, 200), a linebacker from LaGrange, Ga. He chose Auburn over Georgia and FSU. Two of the top tight ends in the nation in Tommy Trott (6-4, 240) from Montgomery-Trinity and Gabe McKenzie (6-3, 220) from Mobile-Davidson signed with the Tigers. (AuburnSports.com)

FLORIDA: Brian Ellis (6-4, 235), from Daytona Beach Mainland, was the only tight end to sign with Florida. Simon Codrington (6-7, 270), an offensive lineman from South Miami Senior High, had in-home visits with Urban Meyer and Bobby Bowden. He signed with UF after looking at FSU, West Virginia and N. C. State. Florida filled an important need at linebacker with four signees including Jon Demps (6-4, 225), a linebacker from Pensacola Washington. Ellis is his cousin. Another heralded linebacker prospect Daryl Gresham (6-3, 251), from Roanoke, Va., also signed with Florida. The only running back signee was Kestahn Moore (5-10, 205) from Arlington (Texas) Mansfield Summit. (GatorBait.net)

LSU: The gem of the Tiger class was Ryan Perrilloux (6-2, 207), a quarterback from East Saint Johns High in Louisiana. Brandon LaFell (6-3, 180), a receiver from Houston Lamar, chose LSU over Florida after his visit to Gainesville this past weekend. R. J. Jackson (6-0, 197), an athlete from Houston, Texas Westside, also chose LSU over Florida, Texas and TCU. (TigerBait.com)

ALABAMA: Tide Coach Mike Shula emphasized the running back position with the signing of several heralded prospects including Roy Upchurch (6-0, 207), a tailback from Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby who chose Alabama over FSU and Arkansas. Other running back signees were Glenn Coffee (6-0, 207) from Fort Walton Beach, Mike Ford (6-2, 205), from Sarasota, Fla., and Ali Sharrief (5-10, 190) from North Jackson in Stevenson, Ala. Alabama signed a strong defensive line group led by Bobby Greenwood (6-4, 239), from Prattville, Ala., who chose the Tide over Auburn and FSU. Lorenzo Washington (6-4, 265) and Brandon Fanney (6-5, 270), both from Hargrave Military Academy and Brandon Deaderick (6-4, 230) from Elizabethtown, Ky., and Antonio Forbes (6-4, 265) from Meadowcreek, Norcross, Ga., could all see some early playing time. (BOL.com)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gamecock officials are looking for an athletic director who will emphasize public relations. Outgoing AD Mike McGee did not emphasize community relations at all. Mike Davis (5-10, 205), a running back from Columbia, S. C., has signed with the Gamecocks over Clemson. Dakota Walker (6-4, 235), a defensive end/outside linebacker from Mays Landing (N.J.), has signed with USC over Virginia Tech. Jonathan Hannah (6-4, 255), a four-star tight end from Hope Mills (N. C.) South View de-comitted from Virginia Tech and signed with South Carolina. O. J. Murdock (6-0, 178), a receiver from Tampa Middleton, has signed with USC. (GamecockCentral.com and The State)

TENNESSEE: Phil Fulmer is now the third highest paid coach in the nation behind Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and Texas’s Mack Brown. Fulmer will receive $2.1 million on a new seven-year deal. Fulmer joins Auburn’s Tommy Tuberville, Florida’s Urban Myer, Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis and Brown as coaches who recently hit the $2 million mark.

The Vols have signed a consensus top five recruiting class. Slick Shelley (6-4, 180), a receiver from Fort Smith, Arkansas signed with Tennessee over LSU. Ulysses Alexander (6-4, 180), a receiver from Miami Northwestern surprised many by signing with the Vols over Mississippi State. He is a nephew of Luther Campbell of 2LiveCrew. Montario Hardesty (6-0, 190), a running back from New Bern, N. C., who was wavering between the Tar Heels and Vols, signed with the Vols. (Volquest.com)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Kenny Kern, a junior middle linebacker from Clarksdale, said he is planning on transferring. Kern started six games and made 38 tackles. A few months ago, Marvin Byrdsong transferred to I-AA Northwestern (La.) State. The trio of Kern, Byrdsong and Clarence McDougal were replaced before the Florida game by freshmen Gabe O’Neal and Titus Brown and sophomore Quinton Culberson. Cory Gardhigh (6-3, 218) has signed with State over Marshall. Anthony Johnson (5-10, 188), an athlete from Jackson (Miss.) Provine, has signed with State over Ole Miss and Southern Miss. Derek Pegues (5-10, 183), a cornerback from South Panola, Miss., stunned fans and switched from Ole Miss and signed with State. (Bullblitz.com)

OLE MISS: Rebels and Memphis officials are considering moving their Saturday, Sept. 3 game to Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. Linebacker coach Charlie Camp resigned his position this past weekend after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence.

Milton Collins (6-1, 180), a receiver from Jones Community College, has signed with the Rebels. Jerrell Powe (6-2, 340), a lineman from Waynesboro, Miss., has signed with Ole Miss after flirting with Auburn and committing to LSU. Quentin Taylor (6-1, 235), a four-star linebacker from Apopka, Fla., signed with the Rebels. Ole Miss coaches are excited about Marcus Green (5-10, 170), a running back from Bastrop, La. (RebelGrove.com and Clarion-Ledger)

ARKANSAS: Felix Jones (6-0, 195), a running back from Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington signed with the Hogs over Tennessee. Rivals.com ranks Jones the No. 19 athlete nationally and the No. 4 recruit in Oklahoma. (Hawgsports.com)

MIAMI: The Canes filled needs in the secondary with Kenny Phillips (6-3, 195), a safety from Carol City, who signed with Miami over Tennessee and Randy Phillips (6-2, 185), a defensive back from Belle Glades Central. Richard Gordon (6-4, 250), a defensive end from Miami Norland switched from Florida and signed with Miami. Jerrell Mabry (6-2, 255), a fullback from Columbus (Ga.) Shaw, signed with Miami instead of Georgia or Florida. Reginald Youngblood (6-6, 285), an offensive lineman from Houston (Texas) Washington High, also inked with the Canes. He was also considering Oklahoma. Youngblood was one of four offensive linemen who chose Miami. (Canesport.com)

FLORIDA STATE: The Noles had a private football banquet on Saturday night. The freshman class academic winner was Drew Weatherford with a 3.667 grade point average. Wyatt Sexton was the sophomore class academic winner with the same GPA. Bryant McFadden was the senior class academic award winner with a 3.13 GPA. He also won the Bob Crenshaw Award for the player with the biggest heart. Most Improved Player winners were defensive tackle Travis Johnson for the defense and offensive guard Cory Niblock for the offensive. Linebacker Ernie Sims was the MVP of the defense and Leon Washington was the MVP of the offense.

FSU has one of the best finishes in recent National Signing Day history. Matt Hardrick (6-5, 338), an offensive lineman from Orlando Edgewater, signed with FSU on Thursday. Geno Hayes (6-2, 206), a linebacker from Madison County, signed with FSU over Clemson and Tennessee after visiting this past weekend. He wants to wear jersey number “10” worn by former Nole Derrick Brooks. Fred Rouse (6-4, 190), a receiver from Tallahassee Lincoln, signed with FSU over Alabama. He made his official visit to Tallahassee this past weekend. Antone Smith (5-8, 180), a running back from Pahokee, Fla., spurned Miami and signed with the Noles. Richard Goodman (6-0, 175), a receiver from St. Thomas Aquinas Fort Lauderdale, visited FSU this past weekend and signed with the Noles. Auburn, Oklahoma, Mississippi State and N. C. State were also recruiting him. Derek Nicholson (6-0, 220) a linebacker from Charlotte, N. C., signed with FSU over Texas, and North Carolina. His brother, A. J., plays at FSU and his father played at North Carolina. Jamie Robinson (6-2, 185), a cornerback from Rock Hill Northwestern S. C., has signed with FSU. He is considered the best player in South Carolina. Virginia Tech and Clemson were also in the mix. (Warchant.com and Tallahassee Democrat)

N. C. STATE: Marc Trestman has been named the new offensive coordinator. He was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Dolphins last season. Coach Chuck Amato dealt with a shortage of running backs with the signing of Andre Brown (6-2, 220), from Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy and Toney Baker (5-10, 218) from Ragsdale, Jamestown, N. C. (Wolfpacker.com)

CLEMSON: Antonio Clay (6-1, 210), a linebacker from Jefferson Georgia Twigg County, has signed with Clemson over Oklahoma. Quentez Ruffin (6-5, 290), an offensive lineman from Leon County High in Tallahassee, could make an immediate impact. James Davis (6-1, 205), a running back from Douglass (Ga.) High in Atlanta, has been compared to former Tiger great Raymond Priester. (TigerIllustrated.com)

MARYLAND: Defensive end Melvin Alaeze (6-2, 280), who is from Randallstown Baltimore, may be the prize of Ralph Friedgen’s signing class. (Rivals.com)

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