SOUTH CAROLINA: Chris Smelley (6-2, 213), a quarterback from American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has committed to the Gamecocks. LSU, N C State, Louisville, and Tennessee have offered him. Alabama has not. Smelley has 59 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Gamecock assistant Rick Stockstill, who was the recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach, is the new head coach at Middle Tennessee. Stockstill and UAB offensive coordinator Pat Sullivan were finalists. Will Muschamp, the Dolphin assistant, Charlie Strong, the Gator assistant and UAB head coach Watson Brown pulled their names out. Stockstill’s absence means Spurrier has to fill his position and the running backs coach position after Madre Hill was fired. With less than two weeks remaining, slightly more than half the 48,000 tickets to the Independence Bowl have been sold.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson has interviewed for the same position at Maryland.

OLE MISS: Quarterback Ethan Flatt, a periodic starter, has decided to skip his senior season and concentrate on law school. Flatt started the last two seasons on the bench but ended up starting before the season was over. His departure leaves the Rebels in a lurch at quarterback. Robert Lane, another quarterback, was moved to fullback before the season ended. Kevin Rogers, the Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach, is a possibly to replace Noel Mazzone as the Rebel offensive coordinator. Bengals receiver coach Hue Jackson and Southern Cal assistant coach Steve Sarkisian are at the top of coach Ed Orgeron’s wish list. Reggie Hicks (6-2, 220), a running back from Madison (Ms.) Central, has committed to the Rebels. Ole Miss continues to recruit JUCO quarterback Brent Schaeffer, who has visited N. C. State and Wisconsin. He is scheduled to visit Ole Miss and Florida in January, but the commitment of Tim Tebow might discourage him. He is the No. 3 ranked junior college quarterback in the nation. Jason Hawkins (6-4, 250), a JUCO tight end from San Bernardino (Calif.) College has committed to Ole Miss.

ALABAMA: Mike McCoy (6-3, 200), a receiver from Northeast Rankin in Brandon, Ms., has committed to Alabama. Auburn, Iowa State and the Mississippi schools had offered him. Justin Woodall (6-3, 200), a four-star safety from Oxford, Miss., was the second commitment from the weekend. Ole Miss, Memphis, Tennessee and Miss State are recruiting him. Recardo Wright (6-2, 215), a linebacker from Orlando Dr. Phillips, was the third commitment over the weekend. Auburn, Iowa, LSU and Maryland have offered him. Greg McElroy (6-2, 212), a quarterback from Southlake Texas Carroll, committed to Texas Tech earlier but Tide coaches continue to talk to him. His team is 15-0 and playing in the state title game Saturday. Alabama offensive coordinator Dave Rader is rumored to be in line for the vacant head coaching job at Rice.

ARKANSAS: Gus Malzahn, the former high school coach at Springdale High School, has been named the new offensive coordinator. Malzahn coached former Hog commitment Mitch Mustain, the heralded quarterback. Malzahn led the school to the Class 5A state title. Former quarterback coach Roy Wittke is no longer on the staff.

FLORIDA: Tim Tebow (6-3, 217), the quarterback from Nease High committed to Florida on Tuesday. Tebow was recently named the state’s Mr. Football. Backup quarterback Josh Portis has decided to transfer from Florida according to his mother Patricia. Portis saw action in six games this past season. He was rated as the fourth-best dual-threat quarterback according to Rivals.com when he came out of Woodland Hills, Calif. The next school he attends means he will have played at five schools in the past five years. He will not practice for the bowl game. Portis said he started thinking about leaving after the open week when the offense was changed to be more conventional. He also said he is looking at two schools in the Pac 10 and one in the ACC (not FSU). Chris Leak and Cornelius Ingram are the only two scholarship quarterbacks on the Gator roster. Junior Gavin Dickey could return to the position. Jamar Hornsby (6-3, 195), a four-star athlete from Sandalwood High in Jacksonville, will have ACL surgery on Dec. 19. The Gator commitment said he will have a four month rehab. Virginia Beach, Va., Landstown athlete Percy Harvin (6-1, 188), No. 1 according to Rivals.com, will receive a visit from Florida coaches Thursday. Harvin might visit FSU Jan. 13. Miami and Southern Cal are also interested.

LSU: Zhamal Thomas (6-4, 335), an offensive tackle from New Iberia Senior High, has committed to the Tigers. The four-star OT chose LSU over Clemson, Florida, Texas A & M and Ole Miss. Damon McDaniel (6-0, 192), receiver from Virginia Beach Landstown is down to LSU, Florida and Miami. He has already visited Florida and will visit Miami and LSU next month.

FLORIDA STATE: Andre Smith (6-4, 325), the No. 1 offensive lineman from Huffman, Ala., according to Rivals.com, received a visit from coach Mark McHale last week. He will visit FSU in January. Southern Cal, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Miami have all offered him. He visited Miami this past weekend. Linebacker Ernie Sims and running back Lorenzo Booker are both considering leaving early. Sims because he has first round potential and Booker due to less emphasis on the running game this past season. FSU is appealing to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility for offensive lineman Matt Meinrod, who dislocated his ankle and fractured his left fibula against Wake Forest. Carlos Brown (6-0, 205), the running back from Heard County Georgia, is down to FSU, Georgia and South Carolina. He will graduate this month and be on campus in January. This season while playing quarterback, Brown rushed for 1,500 yards and had 25 touchdowns. Brown is No. 32 in the Rivals.100.

GEORGIA TECH: Jamaal Evans (5-8, 185), a four-star running back from Irving, Texas, committed to the Yellow Jackets over the weekend. Iowa State, Minnesota, North Carolina and Oklahoma State have offered him. Demaryius Thomas (6-4, 210), a receiver from Dublin, Ga., has committed to the Jackets. He has offers from Duke, Georgia, Indiana and Louisville.

MIAMI: Joshua Tatum (6-0, 219), an inside linebacker from Oakland, Calif., chose Southern Cal over Miami Monday night. He is the No 3 player in the nation at his position. Ryan Hill (6-0, 178), a defensive back from Tallahassee Rickards, has verbally committed to Miami. Hill is ranked No. 61 in the Rivals.100. Cane receiver Akieem Jolla is likely going to transfer to be close to his mother who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. In his career, he has 24 catches for less than 300 yards. He might have seen more playing time next season with Sinorice Moss graduating and Ryan Moore contemplating the NFL draft.

NORTH CAROLINA: Defensive coordinator Marvin Sanders is staying in Chapel Hill after being offered from Texas A & M and Kansas State. Under Sanders the Tar Heel defense went from being ranked in the 100s to No. 45. Steve Logan, the former head coach of East Carolina, is a possibility for the offensive coordinator position.

CLEMSON: Chris Hairston (6-5, 270), an offensive tackle from Winston-Salem, N. C., has committed to the Tigers. He is commitment No. 15 for the Tigers.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FL.
HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM AND SAMSPORTSLINE.COM.
HE CAN BE HEARD AT 6:20 P.M. ON MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS ON 930 THE FOX IN JACKSONVILLE, FLA.