GEORGIA: Bulldog defensive back Albert Hollis III will forgo a sixth year of eligibility to concentrate on his track career. Hollis had a severe knee injury in the spring of 2001 before ever playing in a game. He tore three ligaments in his knee, ripped the hamstring away from the bone and had severe nerve damage. Senior defensive lineman Darrius Swain is out of jail after serving time for a suspended license. He is preparing for the season. Expectations are high for Swain after his tackle numbers have dwindled from 37, 33 to 15. (Ledger-Enquirer and UGASports.com)

ALABAMA: School President Robert Witt has recommended and the board of trustees approved a five-year extension for athletic director Mal Moore, who was hired in 1999. Moore has yet to sign the extension, but it is mere formality. Taylor Pharr (6-6, 270), an offensive tackle from Shades Valley (Ala.) High, has committed to the Tide. Alabama has seven verbal commitments. Tide running back signee Roy Upchurch has qualified according to Tallahassee Godby High coach Shelton Crews. He now has to pass through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Quarterback signee Jimmy Johns underwent a MRI to check out a possible slight tear in his rotator cuff. Johns hurt his shoulder during the week of the Alabama-Mississippi all-star game. (Bamaonline.com and Mobile Register)

TENNESSEE: Luke Stocker (6-5, 220), a tight end from Berea, Kentucky has committed to Tennessee. Louisville, Duke, N C State, Virginia Tech and Clemson are recruiting him. The Vols have four verbals. Linebacker Daniel Brooks (driving on a suspended license and failure to satisfy a previous citation) and defensive back Corey Campbell (driving on a suspended license, failure to satisfy a previous citation and an outstanding warrant for failure to comply with the courts following a theft charge) have been suspended for one game and removed from scholarship for the second semester of summer school. Brooks was already suspended for two games with the latest problem increasing it to three. Since February of 2004, there have been 13 incidents involving players who have either been arrested or issued citations. (Volquest.com)

OLE MISS: Shay Hodge (6-2, 180), an athlete from Morton High in Ms., is commitment No. 10 for the Rebels. Hodge hopes to play both football and basketball at Ole Miss. Mississippi State, Southern Miss and Iowa State have also offered him. (RebelGrove.com)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Tailback Cory Boyd is no longer on the football team after he has been suspended for a “non-academic” violation. He is still enrolled in school. Boyd was the No. 2 tailback behind Daccus Turman. The Gamecocks have already lost running backs Demetris Summers and Antonio Lamar earlier in the year. (The State)

ARKANSAS: Freddie Barnett (6-1, 300), a defensive tackle at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College, is the first commitment for Arkansas. He committed to the Hogs two years ago, but did not qualify. Barnett has a 450-pound bench press and a 600 pound squat. (Hawgsports.com)

MIAMI: The Canes are trying to schedule FAMU for their 12th game in 2006. ESPN is attempting to schedule a home and home against Oklahoma in 2007 (Orange Bowl) and 2009 (Norman). The Gators are on the 2008 schedule for at a yet- to- be determined site. Luqman Abdallah (6-4, 305), a defensive tackle signee from New Jersey, has been accepted to Miami. He was hoping to be in Coral Gables this week. Defensive lineman Leslie Stirrups (6-2, 275), who is from Tampa Hillsborough High, was the defensive line MVP for the Canes football camp. He said if UM offers he would accept. FSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Ohio State have already offered him. Florida is his second choice but he said they are miles behind Miami. Stirrups still has some academic work to do. (Canesport.com)

BEST SEC COACHES SINCE PAUL BRYANT: Birmingham sports talk radio host Paul Finebaum in last Saturday’s Mobile Register selected Steve Spurrier, Phillip Fulmer, Vince Dooley, Pat Dye, Gene Stallings, Nick Saban, Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill, Tommy Tuberville and Mark Richt as the best coaches since Bryant retired. (Mobile Register)

GEORGIA TECH: Starting cornerback Reuben Houston was arrested Tuesday in Atlanta in connection with a marijuana distribution operation based in California. Houston was a two-year starter with seven career interceptions. (SI.com)

FLORIDA STATE: Quarterback Drew Weatherford has had the protective boot removed from his left foot after undergoing ankle surgery. He is participating in offseason workouts. Tight end Donnie Carter has recovered from his torn ACL that he suffered last preseason. Linebacker A J Nicholson has also joined the team while he is in the midst of his legal problems. Letroy Guion (6-4, 282), a defensive tackle from Starke Bradford, signed a letter of intent with FSU this week. On the same day as his signing, he also attended the funeral for his cousin, Chris Smith, who was the Bradford County quarterback. In his senior season, Guion had 130 tackles and had 12 sacks and forced 11 fumbles during his senior season. Offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden left Wednesday to travel to Nashville to talk to Norm Chow with the Tennessee Titans. (Warchant.com)

CLEMSON: Tim Tebow, a five-star quarterback at Nease High in St. Augustine, visited Clemson over the weekend. The Tigers have had a big week of verbal commitments. Deantwan Whitehead (6-6, 245), a defensive end from Birmingham, Ala., has committed to Clemson. Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and Louisville also offered him. He bench presses 295 pounds and squats 420. Michael Wade (6-2, 187), a quarterback from Greer-Riverside High in South Carolina, also committed to the Tigers. He has also camped at South Carolina, Maryland, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. Another recent commitment was Ricky Sapp (6-5, 225), a defensive end from Bamberg-Ehrhardt High in South Carolina. Rivals.com ranks him the No. 42 prospect overall and the No. 2 prospect in South Carolina. (TigerIllustrated.com)

LABOR DAY FOOTBALL: From Thursday Sept. 1-Monday Sept. 5 there are presently 25 football games listed for television. (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.