Brandon Spikes (6-4, 235), a linebacker from Shelby (N. C.) Crest, has committed to Florida over Alabama and Virginia Tech. Ben Cleveland (6-4, 230), a tight end from Springdale (Ark.), has de-committed to Florida and committed to Arkansas. His teammate, Damian Williams (6-1, 175), a member of the Rivals100 team, is committed to the Gators for the time being. Florida visitors this weekend are running back C. J. Spiller (5-10,195), a running back from Union (Fla.) County and Reshad Jones (6-2, 180), a defensive back from Atlanta (Ga.) Washington. Florida has 27 commitments. Clifton Geathers (6-7, 270) a lineman from Carvers Bay in Georgetown, S.C., wants to visit Florida, FSU, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Southern Cal. He has played in the Shrine Bowl and the Army All-American Bowl. Ian Symonette (6-9, 320), a lineman from St. Pius X, in Houston, Texas, is visiting this weekend. Florida, LSU, Texas A & M, Miami and Oklahoma are recruiting him. He played in the Army All-American game last weekend.

Former Georgia commitment Josh Johnson (6-3, 235), a linebacker from Georgia Military College, is visiting Florida this weekend. Johnson said this is his only visit. Gator quarterback Gavin Dickey has decided to drop football and concentrate on baseball. He has not ruled out a return to football in the fall. His departure leaves the Gators with only freshman Tim Tebow and Chris Leak at quarterback for the spring.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gamecock defensive backs Ko Simpson and Johnathan Joseph have announced that they are leaving for the NFL. Joseph had one year of eligibility remaining and Simpson had two. Backup quarterback Antonio Heffner and reserve running back Albert Ashcraft are transferring to I-AA schools. Heffner is going to Tennessee State and Ashcraft, who was seldom used, is going to run track at Western Carolina. Sophomore linebacker Dustin Lindsey has been ruled ineligible and will not play in 2006. Lindsey started four games after replacing Ricardo Hurley at the mid-point of the season.

The Gamecocks and Wofford have agreed to a one-year contract next season in Columbia. Wofford replaces Central Florida, who opted out of the 2006 schedule. The date of the game has not been finalized. Beginning this year, the NCAA will allow Division I-A teams to count contests against I-AA opponents toward bowl eligibility not just once every three years. This is a big recruiting weekend for South Carolina with 19 players on official visits. Rivals100 running back Kylan Robinson (6-1, 215), who is from Tampa Chamberlain and Rivals100 offensive tackle Daron Rose (6-5, 315), an offensive lineman from Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson, are among the visitors. With quarterback Blake Mitchell struggling toward the end of the season with his decision- making, look for more playing time next season from redshirt freshman Cade Thompson, who is from Phil Fulmer’s home town of Maryville, Tenn.

OLE MISS: Linebacker Patrick Willis said he will return for his senior season after mulling over leaving early for the NFL. He led the nation last year with nine solo tackles per game. Willis was a first team All-American and a second team AP All-American last season. He also would not have been healthy for NFL tryouts due to an assortment of injuries. Robert Lane, one of only two quarterbacks (redshirt freshman Billy Tapp is the other) remaining on the Rebel roster, has decided that he will remain on the team. Lane completed 9- of- 22 passes with four interceptions last season before moving to fullback. Former Miami offensive coordinator Dan Werner has been hired as the next offensive coordinator replacing the fired Noel Mazzone. Former Cane offensive line coach Art Kehoe has been hired for the same position in Oxford.

ALABAMA: Defensive ends coach Paul Randolph has accepted a position as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Rice. Tide tailback Ken Darby said he will return for his senior season. Fullback La’Ron McClain also said he would also come back for his final year. Nitika Stover (6-1, 200), a receiver from Itawamba Junior College, has qualified academically and will enroll at Alabama this week. He was the state of Alabama’s top prospect two seasons ago, signed with the Tide, but failed to qualify. Alabama has at least two uncommitted visitors this weekend. Kentrell Lockett (6-4, 215), a defensive end from Boute High in Hahnville, La. is down to Alabama and Ole Miss. Anthony Dixon (6-1, 229), a running back from Terry, Miss., is down to Alabama and Mississippi State. Former Michigan running back Max Martin, a Madison, Ala., native, enrolled at Alabama Tuesday. He was a four-star running back in Michigan’s signing class of 2004, but fell down the depth chart after repeated fumbles. Martin will not be eligible until the 2007 season. Marcus Udell (5-11, 178), a cornerback from Tallahassee Godby (Fla.) High, is visiting this weekend. Florida, Alabama, Maryland and LSU are his favorites.

TENNESSEE: Offensive lineman Aaron Sears, defensive linemen Tony McDaniel, Turk McBride, Justin Harrell and fullback Cory Anderson all officially declared Wednesday that they would return for their senior season. Offensive lineman Rob Smith declared his intentions to go pro last week. Kurt Roper, an assistant at Kentucky, is the final hire to round out the coaching staff. He would be the running backs coach and Trooper Taylor would move to receivers coach. Justin Garrett (6-2, 200), a junior college safety from Pasadena College, has committed to Tennessee. He will not be a mid-term enrollee. Missouri was also recruiting him. Quinton Hancock (6-2, 185), a receiver from St. Augustine (Fla.) High, is being courted by Tennessee. He has visited Nebraska, Maryland, and Tennessee and is set to visit Georgia Tech. Brandon Warren (6-2, 230), a tight end/defensive end from Alcoa, Tenn., is visiting Tennessee the final weekend of the recruiting season. Warren, a FSU commitment, said after visiting the Vols he will sit down with his parents and make a decision. Chase Nelson (6-4, 255), a defensive end from Tulsa Union in Oklahoma, is the latest Vol commitment.

ARKANSAS: Alex Mortensen, a former quarterback for the Hogs, is transferring to Georgia Southern, coached by Brian VanGorder. Mortensen is the son of ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Television stations in Arkansas are reporting that Mitch Mustain (6-2, 190), the heralded quarterback from Springdale, Ark., is close to re-committing to the Hogs. Arkansas coaches are also trying to get Damien Williams to de-commit to Florida and commit to Arkansas.

VANDERBILT: The Commodores have dropped Middle Tennessee State, which has beaten Vandy three straight times, from its home opener and added a game at Michigan to be televised by ESPN. This will be the only regular season game between SEC and Big Ten teams this season. The ESPN deal included television appearances in 2007 for the football and women’s basketball teams. Vandy, 5-6 last season, will be looking for a new quarterback after losing Jay Cutler.

LSU: The Tigers are trying to move their Oct. 21st game against Auburn to Sept. 16. If this happens, the move gives LSU two games followed four straight road games. Without the move, LSU plays five straight home games, but then goes nearly a month without a game at Tiger Stadium and they would have to play Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama in a four-week stretch. Andre Smith (6-5, 320), the offensive lineman from Huffman (Ala.) High, is visiting this weekend. Last season, LSU lost $1.5 million due to Hurricane Katrina. Most of the loss came when the Tigers had to move the opener against Arizona State from Baton Rouge to Tempe. Athletic director Skip Bertman said the Tigers make an average of $3 million for every home game. Junior safety LaRon Landry has not decided to enter the NFL draft despite rumors to the contrary.

GEORGIA: Junior defensive end Quinton Moses said he will return for his senior season. Moses was second in the SEC last season in tackles for loss and sacks. Bulldog redshirt freshman linebacker Dannell Ellerbe has been suspended indefinitely from the team following a car wreck that involved alcohol-related charges. He played in 10 games last season and made 15 tackles. Brent Brewer (6-2, 187), a receiver from Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek, is visiting this weekend. Brewer, a pro baseball prospect, is choosing between Georgia and FSU. Georgia is working on a contract extension for coach Mark Richt. He received an extension in 2002 that included an $8 million buyout that decreased with each season under the contract’s terms. Richt, who has won 52 games in five seasons, will again have a big buyout in the next contract. Georgia is trying to secure Richt before the FSU and Miami jobs come open. News on future opponents—Louisville (2011-12), Western Carolina (07), Georgia Southern (08) and Appalachian State (09) -- for the Bulldogs were released this week. Next season Georgia faces Western Kentucky, UAB, Colorado and Georgia Tech in non-conference play. They play Mississippi State on Oct. 21 the week before the annual Florida matchup in Jacksonville. Georgia commitment Tony Wilson (5-10, 165), a receiver from Daytona Beach Mainland, will not visit Florida or FSU as rumored.

AUBURN: This is a big recruiting weekend for Auburn with seven highly rated defensive linemen visiting. Several visitors—defensive ends Bryant Miller (6-3, 240), who is from Miami Central, Darrell Roseman (6-3, 235), who is from Clearwater, and Geno Atkins (6-3, 270), who is from Ft. Lauderdale and defensive tackles Charles Deas (6-4, 320), who is from Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, and Mike Blanc (6-4, 265), a lineman from Deerfield Beach—are all from the state of Florida. Jermarcus Ricks (6-4, 280), a defensive lineman from Colbert (Ala.) County, is also visiting. He will make a decision between Alabama and Auburn shortly after the visit. Tiger commitment Alex Rose (6-2, 177), a receiver from First Coast High in Jacksonville, said he will probably not visit FSU even though the Noles offered him last month. Cornerback David Irons is back on campus taking classes and will play next season if the NCAA grants his request of another year of eligibility. He had hinted before the bowl game that he would declare early for the NFL.

N C STATE: Linebacker Stephen Tulloch, a first-team All-ACC selection, has decided to leave early for the NFL. He made 15 tackles and three sacks in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

NORTH CAROLINA: Nine verbal commitments from the Tar Heels’ 16th ranked class are scheduled to visit this weekend including Logan Buchanan (6-2, 205), a linebacker from Mocksville (N.C.) Davie County. He is the No. 63 rated outside linebacker according to Rivals.com.

MIAMI: Coach Larry Coker is still trying to complete his staff. Randy Shannon, the defensive coordinator, makes $150,000 per year, but the reluctance of Miami officials to pay assistants could hinder their search for an offensive coordinator. Junior running back Tyrone Moss said he will stay in school despite being upset over the firing of running backs coach Don Soldinger. Todd Berry, the offensive coordinator at ULM, has been hired as a position coach. He has coached at Army and Illinois State. Coker still needs to fill four positions on the staff. He might also be waiting until the NFL playoffs are over. Preston Parker (6-0, 175), a receiver from Palm Beach Atlantic, called coach Larry Coker to ask him if he had to get his hair cut as a freshman. Parker told Coker it was important to keep his hair. He is interested in Minnesota, N C State, Miami and FSU. Former Cane player Michael Irvin said he is going to work with the receivers during the offseason.

FSU: Athletic director Dave Hart has started his annual review process with coach Bobby Bowden. Hart said he had concerns, but would not elaborate. One of those concerns is the kicking game and the handling of kickers in practice. The Garnet and Gold game is set for April 8. The bus carrying the FSU special teams players broken down on the return trip to the hotel after the Orange Bowl. Linebacker Ernie Sims deciding to turn pro means the Noles will lose six of the top seven tacklers. They lose nose guard Broderick Bunkley, linebackers Marcello Church and A J Nicholson, defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, and defensive backs Pat Watkins, Kyler Hall and Gerard Ross. Antonio Cromartie will also be gone. Linebacker coach Kevin Steele was pleased with the play of young linebackers Geno Hayes, Lawrence Timmons, Derek Nicholson and Buster Davis. FSU had 26 yards rushing on 26 attempts in the Orange Bowl.

FSU rushed for over 120 yards only three times this season against Division I-A opponents. The Noles ran 350 times compared to 483 passes. Tony Carter’s pick prevented the cornerbacks from not having a pick this season. The previous cornerback low was two in 1994. Freshman cornerback Michael Ray Garvin broke his left hand and did not return. Receiver Chris Davis and safety Roger Williams left the game with injuries in the second half.

Redshirt freshman defensive back Kenny Ingram, who was ruled academically ineligible for the bowl game and spring practice, could be back in the fall. Cornerback J.R. Bryant and Carter are both scheduled to have shoulder surgery and will probably miss spring practice.

FSU has 17 commitments and hope to sign 25. Athlete Myron Rolle (6-2, 214) of Princeton, N. J., defensive tackle Paul Griffin and linebacker Toddrick Verdell (6-3, 215) of Butler (Kansas) Community College and quarterback Christian Ponder (6-2, 202) of Coffeyville, Texas (all commitments) visited this past Monday. Recardo Wright (6-2, 215), a linebacker from Dr. Phillips High and an Alabama commitment, has decided to visit FSU this weekend. Brandon Walker (6-3, 315), an offensive lineman from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, is also visiting this weekend. He expects to get an offer from the Noles this weekend. Oklahoma, Illinois, Arizona State have already offered him.

Next season FSU has eight home games against Western Michigan, Rice, Troy, Boston College, Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest and Florida. The Noles have road games at Miami, N C State, Maryland and Duke.

VIRGINIA TECH: Brent Schaeffer (6-2, 190), a quarterback at the College of Sequoias in Calif., is looking at the Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Ole Miss and N C State. Schaeffer, the former Tennessee quarterback, is attracted to the Hokies after Marcus Vick was permanently suspended. This past season, Shaeffer threw for 40 touchdowns and six picks.

VIRGINIA: Linebacker Kai Parham is leaving early for the NFL. His teammate Ahmad Brooks could follow. Parham was a first team conference selection this past season.

INSTANT REPLAY: Games were delayed by an average of two minutes because of replay. Of the plays reviewed, 30% were overturned. This past Monday, Division I-A voted against the use of a coach’s challenge at the American Football Coaches Association.

AVERAGE BOWL GAME LENGTH: The average bowl game length was 3 hours and 44 minutes or 20 minutes longer than the regular season. Other bowl game stats were 16 of 28 bowls were decided by seven points or less. The four BCS bowls were decided by an average of 5.75 points, the closest ever.

CLEMSON: The Tigers have been bowl eligible for seven straight years. They have wins over Tennessee, Miami, Texas A & M, and FSU (twice), Colorado and South Carolina (winning six of seven). In the last few years, more than $53 million has been funded for facilities upgrade including the West Zone project. Clemson is second in the nation among the top 25 schools in graduation rates trailing only Notre Dame. Both new defensive coordinator Vic Koenning and offensive coordinator Rob Spence made a big difference this past season. Freshman running back James Davis had a great year. One of the big questions going into spring practice is who will replace quarterback David Whitehurst. Backup Will Proctor is the likely choice.

GEORGIA TECH: Athletic director David Braine is retiring from Tech for health reasons. Possible successors include Bill Curry, an ESPN commentator and former head coach, Paul Griffin, senior associate athletic director since 2002, and Steve Orsini, the athletic director at Central Florida.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.