AUBURN: The Tigers have started spring practice. Redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Cox was solid on Wednesday. Defensive back David Irons is back after recovering from a knee injury. Hendrick Leverette (6-1, 205), a linebacker from Hattiesburg (Miss.) verbally committed to the Tigers over Ole Miss, Southern Miss, West Virginia and Marshall. (Auburnsports.com)

ARKANSAS: Torian Wilkins, an athlete from Brookshire (Texas) Royal, has committed to the Hogs over Baylor, SMU, Houston and Utah among others. (Hawgsports.com)

LSU: Troy Giddens (5-11, 205), a linebacker from Hammond High has committed to the Tigers. UCLA, Texas A & M, Nebraska and Ole Miss have offered him. (TigerBait.com)

FLORIDA: Fall practice begins Monday. Gator and Hurricane officials are close to a deal where Miami will come to Gainesville in 2008 and Florida will play Miami, probably at Dolphins Stadium, in 2013. Miami holds a 28-25 advantage after winning four times this season. Coach Urban Meyer said he is determined to develop a relationship with local high school coaches and start looking at players when they are in the eighth grade. Myron Rolle (6-2, 204), the No. 3 prospect in the Rival100, is visiting both Florida and Florida State this weekend. Rolle, a safety from the Hun School in Princeton, N J, has his own website: myronrolle.net. Damian Williams (6-1, 180), a receiver from Springdale, Ark., has committed to the Gators. Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan and Texas A & M, among others, have offered him. Williams, is the No. 2 player in the state of Arkansas according to Rivals.com (GatorBait.net and The Gainesville Sun)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs had 74 scholarship players and 30 walk-ons report Tuesday. The first practice was Thursday afternoon. Recent signee Jamar Chaney was among the players that showed up on day one. (BulldogBlitz.com)

OLE MISS: Coach Ed Orgeron welcomed his first class of freshmen Thursday. A total of 28 players signed with the Rebels and 22 were expected to report. Wallace Bates and Lance Lee have left the team. John Jerry and Jerrell Powe failed to qualify. Running back Marcus Green and receiver Milton Collins are awaiting final word on their status. Heralded freshman offensive lineman Michael Oher received news from the NCAA Clearinghouse that he was certified last week. (RebelGrove.com)

TENNESSEE: Former Vol quarterback Brent Schaeffer said he would attend the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., this season. He listed Auburn, Georgia and Florida as his favorite schools to attend after playing a year in junior college. Schaeffer will have two years of eligibility left after junior college. Vol receiver signee Ulysses Alexander (6-4, 200), who was from Miami Northwestern High, has been given his release and said he is going to Auburn. He did not want to be grayshirted this season. Alexander, offensive lineman Darius Myers and linebacker Todd Cox are the three members of the signing class that did not enroll. (Volquest.com and The Tennessean)

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks started practice Tuesday in front of 1,000 fans. Coach Steve Spurrier was impressed with the team’s speed especially from freshmen like Bobby Wallace, Mike Davis, O J Murdock and Carlos Thomas. Wallace has been especially impressive with his speed in early drills. Spurrier said after Thursday’s practice that sophomore Blake Mitchell would be the starting quarterback for the opener. Mitchell has spent a productive offseason getting in shape and learning the playbook. (Gamecockcentral.com and The State)

ALABAMA: Marcus Udell, a cornerback from Tallahassee Godby (Fla.) High, lists Alabama in his top six schools that also include Maryland, Florida, Iowa, Clemson and Tennessee. Offensive coordinator Dave Rader hopes to redshirt freshmen Jimmy Barnes and Jimmy Johns. Junior Marc Guillon (who has a back injury) and redshirt freshman John Parker Wilson will battle for the backup spot behind Brodie Croyle. Coach Mike Shula said at SEC Media Days that at least eight freshman might play. (Bamaonline.com)

FLORIDA STATE: C. J. Spiller (5-11, 185), a tailback from Union County (Fla.) High, is visiting this weekend. Spiller said FSU is still his top team. He would like to visit Southern Cal and Michigan. Jamal Harvey, a defensive back/receiver from Andrew Jackson (Fla.) High, said his top three schools are FSU, Georgia and Ole Miss. As a junior, Harvey had 42 catches for 907 yards with 12 scores. He played five games at safety. Strength and conditioning coach Jon Jost awarded freshman tailback Antone Smith as the top newcomer in summer workouts. The most improved player on offense was receiver De’Cody Fagg and lineman Andre Fluellen on defense. (Warchant.com)

MIAMI: The numbers are in from summer workouts and surprisingly; punter Brian Monroe is one of the most athletic players on the team. He was the top player in the short shuttle beating out receivers and defensive backs. Defensive back Marcus Maxey had the best vertical leap of 42 inches. Receiver Sinorice Moss was also 42 inches. Offensive lineman Andrew Bain led the team with a back squat of 585 pounds and 425 pound bench press. Freshman linebacker Spencer Adkins, who weighs 230 pounds, had a 515 back squat; cleaned 330 pounds, benched 400 pounds, and he had a vertical leap of 33 inches. A broken bone in his leg has not slowed down receiver Lance Leggett. He tested well this week in shuttle runs. (Canesport.com)

NORTH CAROLINA: Sophomore running back Vince Wilson will transfer. His brother, Tony, made a verbal commitment to Georgia recently. (CarolinaBlue.com)

CLEMSON: Coach Tommy Bowden said after the annual staff hideaway that he expects position battles between linebackers Lionel Richardson and Anthony Waters, and receivers Aaron Kelly and Kelvin Grant, among many. Bowden also said that he might play as many as six freshmen. (TigerIllustrated.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.