AUBURN: Greg Smith (6-3, 315), a defensive tackle from Booneville (Miss.) Northeast Mississippi Community College, has verbally committed to Auburn. Ole Miss, Miss State, Kentucky, Oregon and Memphis are also recruiting him. He bench-presses 425 pounds. (AuburnSports.com)

GEORGIA: Akeem Hebron (6-1, 195), an outside linebacker from Good Counsel High in Gaithersburg, Md., is commitment No. 12 for the Bulldogs. Hebron chose Georgia over Florida and Virginia Tech. Five of Georgia’s 12 commitments-offensive tackle John Miller (6-6, 289) from Woodland (Ga.) High, Receiver Kris Durham (6-4, 192) from Calhoun (Ga.) High, tight end Chris Davis (6-4, 253) from Jefferson (Ga.) High, offensive lineman Kevin Perez (6-2, 273) from Miami (Fla.) Killian and defensive tackle Ricardo Crawford (6-0, 305) from West Columbus (NC) High- were on hand for last weekend’s football camp. (UGASports.com)

ALABAMA: The NCAA Clearinghouse did not certify receiver signee Nick Kyles, from Baldwin High in Milledgeville, Ga., because his grade point average was not high enough. He joins Antonio Forbes, Desmond Jennings, Mike Ford and Michael Ricks as members of the signing class that did not qualify. Kyles has a twin brother, Jarvis, who qualified at Mississippi State. With Kyles not able to play this season, one of the grayshirt candidates-defensive backs Travis Sikes, Sam Burnthall and offensive lineman Cole Harvey—could be asked to report. Quarterback Brodie Croyle, and tailback Ken Darby has been medically cleared for fall drills. Fullback Tim Castille is in the latter stages of being cleared. (Bamaonline.com)

LSU: Junior defensive end Chase Pittman has been suspended for an off-campus altercation. He admitted to punching a man in the face in a bar. Pittman is a Texas transfer. (Tigerbait.com)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gamecock officials have reached an agreement with the NCAA to resolve an investigation that has lingered for three years. The school has submitted proposed penalties (two-year probation, loss of 12 official visits over a two-year period and loss of four football scholarships) and forwarded it to the NCAA Infractions committee to consider at its next meeting in August. Some of the investigation involved academic improprieties under former coach Lou Holtz, 33-37, at USC. The school took action by suspending two players for three games during the 2003 season and separated itself from senior associate athletic director Tom Perry. One of the players involved was former tailback Derek Watson. Coach Steve Spurrier said the school could lose up to three scholarships next year. SEC Commissioner Mike Slive has worked closely with the school and the NCAA to get the issues resolved. Spurrier and Holtz downplayed the situation Thursday when asked to comment at a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada. Holtz said no coaches were involved. Clark Gaston (6-3, 238), a fullback from Gainesville, Ga., has committed to the Gamecocks. He is rated the No. 68 player in the Georgia Rivals.com top 75. North Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Navy offered him. USC has a big need to fullbacks this season. (The State and Gamecockcentral.com)

OLE MISS: Rebel officials have added Wake Forest (2006 and ’08) and Northwestern (La.) State (2006 and ’07) to future schedules. Coach Ed Orgeron’s alma mater is Northwestern (La.) State. (Clarion-Ledger)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Bulldog strength and conditioning coach Jim Nowell has given high marks to linebacker Quinton Culberson, running back Jerious Norwood, quarterback Omarr Conner and defensive tackle Deljuan Robinson. Freshmen linemen Calvin Wilson (330 pounds) and Chris Spencer (308 pounds) reported to campus in relatively good shape. (Bulldogblitz.com)

ARKANSAS: Damian Williams (6-1, 180), a receiver from Springdale, Ark., has cut down his list of nearly 30 schools to five: Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, LSU and Texas. Williams has camped at Arkansas and Texas. He visited Florida last weekend. (Hawgsports.com)

SEC MEDIA DAYS SCHEDULING: Wednesday, July 27: Florida (C Mike Degory and DB Jarvis Herring), Tennessee (DB Jason Allen and QB Rick Clausen), South Carolina (LB Ricardo Hurley and TE Andy Boyd)) and Ole Miss (QB Micheal Spurlock and LB Patrick Willis). Thursday, July 28: Vanderbilt (QB Jay Cutler and LB Moses Osemwegie), Georgia (OG Max Jean-Gilles and NT Gerald Anderson), Mississippi State (RB Jerious Norwood and C Chris McNeil) and Auburn (OT Marcus McNeil and LB Travis Williams). Friday, July 29: LSU (RB Joseph Addai and DT Kyle Williams), Kentucky (SS Muhammad Abdullah and WR Tommy Cook), Alabama (QB Brodie Croyle and DB Roman Harper) and Arkansas (C Kyle Roper and SS Vickiel Vaughn).

CLEMSON: Richard Jackson, a punter/kicker from Greer-Riverside (SC) High has committed to the Tigers. He is the state of South Carolina’s No. 1 kicker according to Rivals.com. Clemson’s Tommy Bowden said he would welcome former Vol quarterback Brent Schaeffer. JoJo Cox (5-9, 213), a running back from Jeffersonville (Ga.) Twiggs County, has committed to the Tigers. Penn State, Alabama, UCLA, Texas Tech, Purdue, West Virginia and Illinois offered him. (TigerIllustrated.com)

FLORIDA STATE: All-American cornerback Antonio Cromartie tore an ACL in his left knee during voluntary workouts Tuesday. He is out for the season. Sophomore JR Bryant, redshirt freshmen Trevor Ford and Tony Carter, freshman Joe Manning and senior Gerard Ross will have to step up. Cromartie will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Quarterback Wyatt Sexton has been diagnosed with Lyme Disease and will miss the season in order to re-cooperate. The school will seek a sixth year of eligibility for him. C J Spiller, a running back from Union County High, said the Noles are his leader. He is also looking strongly at Florida, Southern Cal, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan and Auburn. Spiller, the No. 49 player according to Rivals.com, Spiller ran for over 1,600 yards and 26 scores last year. Brandon Warren (6-3, 230), a tight end from Alcoa Tennessee, has committed to FSU. Warren lives 15 minutes from Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium. Miami and FSU were his final two choices. Rivals.com rates him as the No. 60 prospect in the nation and the top player in the state. Ryan McMahon (6-3, 280), a defensive end from Darlington High in Rome, Ga., has committed to the Noles. He has a SAT score over a 1,000. As a junior he had 52 pancake blocks and on defense he had 48 tackles including 12 tackles-for-loss. Junior offensive lineman Cory Niblock has delayed foot surgery until after the season. If he had the surgery, there would be close to a three-month recovery time. He is expected to compete for a starting job at left tackle when fall drills begin. Sophomore defensive end D J Norris should be close to 100% by fall drills after he has recovered from shoulder surgery. FSU has added Nevada from the WAC to the 2008 schedule. The Wolfpack, coached by Chris Ault, has won 5, 6 and 5 games the past three years. (Warchant.com)

MIAMI: Pat Devlin (6-4, 210), a quarterback from Exton (Pa.) Downington, has committed to the Canes. Virginia and Miami were his final two choices. Devlin is the No. 5 rated quarterback according to Rivals.com. (Canesport.com)

WINNINGEST DIVISION I-A PROGRAMS THE PAST 10 YEARS: 1. FSU (102-23) 2. Tennessee (101-23) 3. Nebraska (100-27) 4. Miami (95-26) 5. Ohio State (97-28) 6. Michigan (95-29) 7. Florida (96-30) 8. Virginia Tech (94-30) 9. Kansas State (95-31) 10. Texas (93-32-1) 11. Toledo (86-33-1) 12. Georgia (88-35) 13. Oklahoma (85-38-1) 14. Miami (Ohio) (80-36-1) and No. 15 Southern Cal (82-40-1)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: With the loss of left guard Jeff Byers, the Trojans have lost three starters including defensive tackle Manny Wright and corner Eric Wright since spring. Regardless of the Byers loss, 13 offensive players will have at least six career starts. Tight end Dominique Byrd and fullback Brandon Hancock will have their knees scoped this week and be out for five weeks. (CBSSportsline.com)

INDIANA: Kellen Lewis, a quarterback from Mandarin High in Jacksonville, has signed with the Hoosiers. Lewis was the Class 6A Player of the Year last year after having 2,600 yards and 24 scores last year. Florida, Maryland and N C State offered him a scholarship to play any skill position except quarterback. Two quarterbacks have left the Hoosier program in the past few months. Lewis was told he would be the No. 3 quarterback behind sophomore Blake Powers and junior Graeme McFarland. (InsideIndiana.com)

SEPT 10 TV: Here are some of the plum games for Sept. 10: Notre Dame/Michigan, noon on ABC, South Carolina/Georgia 5:30 p.m. on ESPN, Texas/Ohio State 8 p.m. on ABC and Arizona State/LSU 8:45 p.m. on ESPN. (Orlando Sentinel)

NEW BCS FORMULA: The new BCS poll will consist of the USA Today Coaches Poll, the new Harris Interactive poll and an average of six computer rankings. The Harris poll (Sept. 25-Dec. 4) includes former coaches, administrators and media. The first BCS standings will be released Oct. 17. (collegefootballnews.com)

MASTER COACHES SURVEY: A group of former coaches will meet this weekend at an undisclosed location to discuss forming a new college football poll called “The Masters Coaches Survey” that won’t be a part of the BCS formula. The originator of the poll is Atlanta lawyer Andy Curtin. Some of the coaches involved are R. C. Slocum, Don James, Don Nehlen, John Robinson, Vince Dooley, Barry Switzer, Bo Schembechler, John Cooper, Pat Dye and Gene Stallings. Several coaches have turned down being involved in the Harris Interactive Football poll. There could be a financial incentive in the poll because the coaches involved would watch game film, comment on the teams publicly, and serve as a spokesman for the poll. (AJC.com)

DAVID WILSON RESIGNS: Tallahassee Lincoln (Fla.) High head coach David Wilson resigned Tuesday after posting a 119-47-1 record in 14 seasons. Wilson coached players such as Antonio Cromartie, Pat Watkins and Fred Rouse of FSU and Florida’s Gavin Dickey and Miami’s Greg Threat. (Tallahassee Democrat)

BOWL NEWS: Notre Dame, the Big East and the Big 12 have partnered with the Gator Bowl and Sun Bowl for a four-year period beginning in 2006. In years when choosing a conference team or Notre Dame, the Gator Bowl or Sun Bowl after a representative to the BCS has been determined. (SI.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.