ARKANSAS: Mitch Mustain (6-3, 208), a quarterback from Springdale, Ark., has narrowed his favorite schools to Arkansas, Alabama, Notre Dame and Tennessee. The Hogs have had two verbal commitments this week. Jerell Norton (6-0, 180), a receiver from Cedar Hill, Texas was the most recent verbal. Johns West (6-2, 190), a safety from Wahepton (N.D.) College of Science, also verbally committed. Iowa State, Kansas State and Minnesota are also recruiting him.

AUBURN: Defensive end Stanley McClover is considering moving on to the NFL. Redshirt freshman Tristan Davis, a former running back, is back at safety for bowl practice. Safety Kevin Hobbs, defensive tackle Wayne Dickens and offensive lineman Troy Reddick graduated last Saturday.

FLORIDA: Receiver Percy Harvin (6-1, 188) from Virginia Beach (Va.) Landstown and his teammate (6-0, 192) Damon McDaniel (No. 60 rated player), a receiver/cornerback have committed to Florida. Harvin was down to Florida and Southern Cal and McDaniel decided between Florida and Virginia Tech. Gavin Dickey has moved to the backup quarterback position and former quarterback Cornelius Ingram will stay at receiver. A J Jones (6-1, 181), a linebacker from Tampa (Fla.) Middleton, is down to Alabama, LSU and Florida. He admitted being more comfortable at Florida. Cornerback Vernell Brown is jogging and might be ready to play in the bowl game. Jermaine Cunningham (6-3, 200), a defensive end from Stone Mountain (Ga.), committed to the Gators. Riley Cooper (6-4, 208), a safety from Clearwater Catholic, has committed to the Gators. He is a Rivals100 member. Auburn, Notre Dame, Southern Cal and Tennessee have offered him. Former Gator quarterback Josh Portis said he is transferring to Maryland. Current quarterback Sam Hollenbach’s eligibility will run out by 2007. Jarrod Shaw (6-4, 344), a lineman from Lafayette (La.) Northside, said his two favorites are Tennessee and Florida. He has a 3.9 GPA and a 22 on the ACT. Junior safety Reggie Nelson is in a cast after injuring the MCL in his right knee. He might not play in the bowl game. If he is out, then sophomore Kyle Jackson will start in his place. Running back Skyler Thornton is transferring to another school.

GEORGIA: Receiver Sean Bailey is will not play in the bowl game after tearing his ACL. Defensive back DeMario Minter is hoping to return for the Sugar Bowl after having his knee scoped. NaDerris Ward (6-5, 247), a tight end from Oakland, Calif., has committed to the Dawgs. He is a four-star athlete. Carlos Brown (6-0, 205), a running back from Heard County, turned down Georgia and South Carolina and verbally committed to Michigan. He is No. 32 on the Rivals100. The young quarterbacks such as redshirt freshman Blake Barnes, freshman Joe Cox and junior Joe Tereshinski have gotten valuable practice time. Barnes said he was not going to transfer.

LSU: Coach Les Miles said quarterback JaMarcus Russell is unlikely to play in the bowl game. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn is preparing to start. Longtime LSU and SEC basketball announcer John Ferguson died last weekend. He was 85. Ferguson was the “Voice of the Tigers” for years and did SEC basketball with Joe “string music” Dean for years. Perrish Cox (6-0, 185), a cornerback from University High in Waco, Texas, committed to the Tigers. Nebraska, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are recruiting him. Steven Singleton (6-3, 290), a guard from Buford, Ga., has committed to the Tigers also. Mississippi State, South Carolina and West Virginia have offered him.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Former Duke assistant Fred Chatham has been hired as tight ends coach and former grad assistant Robert Gillespie has been chosen as running backs coach. Co-defensive coordinator John Thompson has been granted an indefinite paid leave. He will not coach in the bowl game. Defensive back Ko Simpson said if his NFL draft status projects him in the first two rounds then he will probably declare himself eligible. Junior cornerback Johnathan Joseph said he will take a look at his status also. Casper Brinkley (6-3, 250), a linebacker from Georgia Military Academy in Milledgeville, Ga. committed to the Gamecocks. His twin brother, Jasper, signed a letter of intent with the Gamecocks. Arizona State, Baylor and Kansas State had offered them. Clarence Bailey (6-6, 308), an offensive lineman from Scranton, Pa., Lackawana Junior College has signed with Ole Miss. He originally signed with Ole Miss.

TENNESSEE: Mike Grant of Iowa State, Joe Whitt, Jr. of Louisville and Curtis Modkins of Georgia Tech are possibilities of replacing former receivers coach Pat Washington. Dorian Davis (6-1, 205), a linebacker for Iowa City, Iowa, has committed to the Vols. Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, and UCF have offered him. LaMarcus Thompson (6-0, 185), a linebacker from Stone Mountain, Ga., has committed to the Vols. Arkansas, Georgia Tech and Kentucky are recruiting him.

OLE MISS: Offensive line coach Georgia Deleone is moving on to a staff position at Temple. Running back Jamal Pittman is transferring to another school for his senior year.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Bulldog coach Sly Croom’s contract has been extended until 2009.

CLEMSON: Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst should start the bowl game despite a sore shoulder. Coach Tommy Bowden said some players were on the academic bubble. Junior guard Nathan Bennett, who was suspended for the South Carolina game, will play in the bowl game. Jacoby Ford (5-9, 175), an athlete/return specialist from Fork Union Military Academy (Va.), has committed to the Tigers. He runs a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. Florida, Michigan State, Southern Cal, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia have offered him.

FSU: Receiver Rod Owens tore an ACL in his knee and will miss the bowl game. He caught nine passes for 113 yards this season. Six FSU coaches visited A J Wallace (6-1, 195), a cornerback from Pomfet, Maryland. Wallace also played running back last season. Penn State, Ohio State, FSU and Nebraska are his top schools. He is scheduled to announce during the All-American game on Jan. 7. Daron Rose (6-5, 310), the No. 4 offensive line prospect from Tampa Jefferson, is down to Michigan and FSU. The coach of Marcus Ball (6-2, 210), a linebacker from Stephenson, said his prized player might be leaning toward FSU. Shannon Boatman (6-7, 310), a lineman from Tyler, Texas has committed to the Noles. Toddrick Verdell (6-3, 215), a safety/outside linebacker from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas has committed to the Noles. Kentucky, Nebraska and Tennessee have offered him. He will have three years of eligibility after redshirting this season. In eight wins the Noles have turned the ball over 13 times and had 19 takeaways. In the three losses, they have 11 turnovers and three takeaways. Defensive lineman Kamerion Wimbley (knee injury) is back at practice and should play. Quarterback Xavier Lee said he is not going to transfer despite his struggling season. Drew Weatherford needs 105 yards passing to break Philip Rivers’s single season ACC record. FSU has a chance to beat back- to- back top five teams for the first time since 1980 when they beat Nebraska and Pitt. Quarterback Wyatt Sexton is back at practice. Receiver depth is thin with sophomore De’Cody Fagg nursing a shoulder injury, freshman Fred Rouse with a pulled hamstring, and Owens out with a torn ACL. Running back C J Spiller (5-9, 185) from Lake Butler Union County is down to his final four—Southern Cal, FSU, Florida and Miami.

MIAMI: After Harvin and McDaniel cancelled their visits to Miami, the Canes will go harder after Preston Parker a receiver from Delray Beach Atlantic Community. Coach Larry Coker has told cornerback Devin Hester that if he returns next year, he could get the ball 20-25 times per game. Defensive lineman Baraka Atkins is considering leaving early for the NFL. Receiver Akieem Jolla is considering transferring to be close to his mother in Louisiana, who lost most of her possessions during Hurricane Katrina. Jolla would have had more of a chance to play next season with Sinorice Moss graduating and Ryan Moore possibly leaving early for the NFL. Chevez Grant (5-10, 170), a cornerback from Miami Booker T. Washington, verbally committed to Miami over Georgia. Richard Gordon (6-4, 265), tight end/defensive end from Milford Mills in New Berlin, N. Y. has been accepted by the Canes admissions office. He spent last fall at the prep school. Chris Mitchell (6-2, 195), a receiver from Marrero (La.) John Ehret is down to Miami and LSU as his top two. Receiver Terrell Walden tore his MCL and will have it scoped.

MARYLAND: Former assistant Chris Cosh has accepted the job as defensive coordinator. Cosh was Maryland’s linebackers coach in 1997. He replaces Gary Blackney.

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.