SOUTH CAROLINA: Assistant coach Rick Stockstill turned down an offer from John Bunting of North Carolina to join his staff as receiver coach. Stockstill is known as one of the best recruiters in the nation. USC coach Steve Spurrier and Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer have disagreed on a recruiting issue. Beamer said last week that after a player commits other schools should back off. Jonathan Hannah, a tight end from Hope Mills, N. C., originally committed to Tech before signing with South Carolina. Baseball coach Ray Tanner has talked with president Andrew Sorensen about becoming the school’s AD. Current AD Mike McGee is retiring this summer. Although Sorensen will not use a search firm, Bill Carr, the head of Carr Sports Association Inc. of Gainesville, Fla., has offered his services. (The State and GamecockCentral.com)

FLORIDA: Coach Urban Meyer has already contacted Ponte Vedra (Fla.) Nease High quarterback Tim Tebow (6-3, 225), who will be one of the most recruited quarterbacks in the nation next year. As a junior, Tebow threw 46 touchdowns and ran for 26 more. Tebow said he has a high interest in Miami, Michigan, Florida, FSU, Georgia and Alabama. Howard Lingard, who played as a freshman at Florida, is trying to return. Lingard was granted his release last summer and ended up in a junior college in Mississippi. Despite a promising beginning, he was eventually dismissed from the team. He is currently living in Oviedo. Lingard has contacted UF academic officials about re-enrolling and hopes to meet with Meyer in the next few weeks.

Taurean Charles remains indefinitely suspended after he was charged with aggravated battery and culpable negligence-infliction of injury. Quarterbacks coach Dan Mullen has been named the Gator offensive coordinator. He was Meyer’s quarterback coach at Bowling Green and Utah. Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong will coach linebackers and co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison will coach the defensive line. Strong has not worked with linebackers since he was at UF in 1988-89. Former Gator coach Ron Zook has hired former Florida quarterback coach Ed Zaunbrecher to be the quarterback coach and passing game coordinator. Zaunbrecher rejoins former Gator assistants Mike Locksley, who is the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator and defensive back coach Dan Disch. (Gainesville Sun and GatorBait.net)

LSU: Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini has accepted the vacant job as Tiger defensive coordinator. Rumors earlier in the week said Dave Campo was interested in the position. Former Tiger defensive lineman Karl Dunbar, who was with the Chicago Bears, has accepted the position as defensive line coach. Bradley Dale Peveto, the Middle Tennessee defensive coordinator, has been named the special teams coordinator. Last Wednesday at his signing day ceremony, Ryan Perrilloux, the quarterback from Reserve Louisiana East St. John, said his chances of playing his first year were good because Tiger quarterback JaMarcus Russell struggled last year and that he was already a better quarterback that Matt Flynn. (TigerBait.com and theadvocate.com)

OLE MISS: Rivals.com ranked the Rebels recruiting class No. 30. Coach Ed Orgeron was disappointed that the Rebels signed only three players in the state’s top 40 prospects.

Indiana transfer BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ status is confusing. Ole Miss officials said he is enrolled in school and has signed a scholarship. However, Green-Ellis has also been reported to have called Indiana coaches about returning to Bloomington. He ran for 794 yards on 231 carries last season. The opener at Memphis has been moved to Labor Day for a 4:30 p.m. ESPN broadcast. Memphis has won two straight games including last year’s 20-13 win in Oxford. (Clarion-Ledger and RebelGrove.com)

AUBURN: The Tigers are still trying to fill the void in next year’s schedule after Southern Miss pulled out. Tiger athletic director Jay Jacobs said SEC officials are trying to juggle multiple games to help Auburn. Tiger coach Tommy Tuberville has yet to sign his seven-year, $14 million contract. Sophomore Leon Hart is moving from left tackle to center. He played in all 12 games as a freshman. The Tigers have to replace starting center Jeremy Ingle. (Auburnsports.com and Mobile Register)

ALABAMA: Nikita Stover, a receiver from Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi said he would graduate in December and join the Tide in January. Stover said he would qualify academically. Stover has gained 15 pounds of muscle since leaving Hartselle, Ala. Stover, who caught 26 passes for 588 yards and six scores, led the state junior college ranks in kickoff returns, averaging 30 yards per return. (BamaOnline.com)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Darren Williams, a safety that led the Bulldogs with four picks last year, has been kicked off the team for violating team rules. Offensive tackle Richard Burch, receiver Antonio Hargro, tailback Nick Turner and defensive back Eric Fuller has been either suspended or dismissed for disciplinary reasons. (Clarion-Ledger and Bulldogblitz.com)

CLEMSON: The Tigers have a scholarship available after offensive lineman Tony Willis left the team. (The State and TigerIllustrated.com)

MIAMI: The Canes lost out on heralded recruits Kyle Moore, a defensive end from Georgia, Antone Smith, a tailback from Pahokee (Fla.) and Brian Cushing, a linebacker from New Jersey. Moore, who chose USC over Miami, said he went to USC because the Trojans had the best signing class. His parents went with him to visit USC, but they were not able to go on the Miami visit. Cushing picked USC over Miami and Boston College. His father wanted him to go to Miami. Smith’s mother, Cassie, wanted him to go to Miami so she could go to his games. She did not find out that he had chosen FSU until he announced his decision on National Signing Day. There were no receivers, quarterbacks or tailbacks in the class. Sophomore receiver Lance Leggett came in a 174 pounds and is now 187. Cornerback Glenn Sharpe should be ready for spring after rehabbing a torn ACL. (Canesport.com)

FLORIDA STATE: Rivals.com selected the Nole defensive line signees (Everette Brown, Justin Mincey, Callahan Bright, Kendrick Stewart, Emmanuel Dunbar and Matt Dunham) as the best group in the nation. FSU signed 11 players from the state of Florida and 10 from other states. FSU has done very well in Georgia signing linebacker Dan Foster, defensive end Justin Mincey and athlete Matt Dunham. They could have as many as 14 players from the Peach State on scholarship this fall. Chris Bradwell, a freshman defensive lineman last season, has been suspended from the team for a violation of team rules. He appeared in five games last year and had one tackle. Tallahassee Police came to his dorm room to investigate a connection with the fraudulent use of a credit card that belonged to freshman fullback Joe Surratt. Police arrested Bradwell after finding marijuana in his apartment. James Jackson (6-0, 235), a fullback from Santa Monica Community College, is joining the team in August. Jackson, a Tallahassee Lincoln graduate, will have two years of eligibility left when he enrolls. Georgia Tech, Oregon and Washington State also recruited him.

Kevin Steele, the FSU linebacker coach, has been named the Rivals.com Recruiter of the Year. Steele was instrumental in the Noles signing five Rivals.com top 100 players in a 24-hour period. He beat out Nebraska’s John Blake, Tennessee’s Trooper Taylor, USC’s Lane Kiffin, Iowa’s Lester Erb and Cal’s Ron Gould for the award. The latest Steele rumor has him going to N. C. State as defensive coordinator. Mat drills begin this week at FSU. Three times per week players report at 5:45 AM for an hour of drills. (Warchant.com and Tallahassee Democrat)

BIG TEN SCHEDULES: Illinois begins with home games against Rutgers and San Jose State and then they travel to Cal; Michigan has non-conference games against Northern Illinois, Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan; Ohio State’s first three games are against Miami University, Texas and San Diego State at home. (Collegefootballnews.com)

BIG 12 SCHEDULE: Kansas State opens with FIU, then they travel to Marshall and return home to face North Texas; Oklahoma hosts TCU and Tulsa then travels to UCLA; Texas starts with UL Lafayette, travels to Ohio State and returns home to play Rice; Nebraska opens with Maine, Wake Forest and Pitt at home; Texas A & M’s first three game are against Clemson, SMU and Texas State; Texas Tech’s first trio of games are against FIU, Sam Houston State and Indiana State. (Collegefootballnews.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.