FLORIDA: Gator quarterback Chris Leak needs 2,605 yards to break the school record set by Danny Wuerffel. He threw for 2,639 yards last year in 12 games. He is also within 3,257 yards of breaking Georgia’s David Greene’s record of 11, 528 yards. Leak will be a guest at the Manning Passing Camp in July at Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La. He will spend a lot of time with Eli and Peyton Manning. He was invited to the camp last year, but had class conflicts. The BMW Camp; featuring former Gator quarterbacks Kerwin Bell, Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel will be held in Gainesville instead of Ocala as a part of the Florida football that started yesterday.

The Gators had 7 of 8 verbal commitments on the Rivals250 list. Jamar Hornsby, an athlete/safety signee from Sandalwood High in Jacksonville, said his knee is around 85% after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL. He said running full speed is not possible yet. He comes to campus on June 26 and will see team doctors two days later. Gator signee Derrick Robinson has decided to play baseball after he was selected in the fourth round of the major league baseball draft by Kansas City. Riley Cooper, another Gator signee, plans on playing both football and baseball for the Gators after being picked in the 15th round by the Philadelphia. On Oct. 14, ESPN has the first choice of SEC games and is expected to choose Florida’s return to Auburn. The Alabama game, Sept. 30, in Gainesville will probably be a CBS affair. Urban Meyer attended Wednesday’s New England Patriot practice along with Virginia coach Al Groh.

AUBURN: Receiver signee Alex Rose from First Coast High in Jacksonville has met NCAA requirements and will report to Auburn as soon as he is approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. John Douglas (6-1, 235), a fullback from Augustus, Ga., has committed to the Tigers. He is the sixth verbal.

OLE MISS: It’s official that Brent Schaeffer has graduated from junior college. He is going to visit with his parents for a few days before leaving for Oxford. The Rebels lead the SEC with 15 verbal commitments including Rishaw Johnson (6-4, 315), an offensive lineman from Hammond, La.

ALABAMA: Tide receiver D J Hall said he will be eligible to play this fall even though he is not going to summer school and that he was at home in Ft. Walton Beach to take care of family matters. He did not play in the Cotton Bowl due to academics, but he had a strong spring as evidenced by catching seven passes for 136 yards in the spring game. William Vlachos (6-1, 302), an offensive lineman from Mountain Brook (Ala.) High, has committed to Alabama. He will likely grayshirt since the Tide has limited scholarship numbers. West Virginia, LSU and Troy have offered. He also said FSU was heavily recruiting him last week. Jennings Hester (6-3, 215), a linebacker from Marist (Ga.) High, has decided to commit to Alabama. Sherod Murdock (6-0, 175), a cornerback from Middleton (Fla.) High in Tampa, committed to the Tide. LaMarcus Williams (6-1, 265), a defensive tackle from Bastrop, La., committed to the Tide. Colorado and LSU are also recruiting him.

Tide quarterback signee Greg McElroy is preparing for his move to Alabama for the second session of summer school. McElroy, whose dad works for the Dallas Cowboys, has been working the team’s strength and conditioning coach. He is a solid 219. McElroy has also worked with Bob Johnson, nicknamed the “quarterback guru” and the father of NFL quarterback Rob Johnson, in California. He is expected for to challenge for the No. 2 spot behind John Parker Wilson.

LSU: Receiver Xavier Carter won two singles events and was on two other winning relay teams at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last weekend. He won the 100 and 400 meters events, the first time it has ever happened. He was the anchor on the 1,600- meter relay event. He also ran the second leg of the 400- meter relay team. The last man to win four titles in the same year was Olympian Jesse Owens. Florida State won the men’s team title. Jacob O’Hair (6-1, 250), a deep snapper from Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California, has committed to the Tigers. He has three years to play two. Delvin Breux (6-0, 175), a cornerback from New Orleans, has committed to the Tigers. He played for Southern Lab in Baton Rogue after being displaced by Katrina. Todderick Bajoie (6-2,198), a receiver from Catholic-High Point Coupee in New Roads, La., committed to the Tigers. He is a return specialist.

GEORGIA: The Bulldog received verbal commitments from teammates John Knox (6-2, 191), a safety and Justin Houston (6-3, 228), an outside linebacker, who are from Statesboro, Ga. Knox said he chose Georgia over Florida. Houston chose the Bulldogs over Georgia Tech.

TENNESSEE: The Vols are awaiting the arrival of signee Chase Nelson (6-4, 254), a defensive end from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Nelson had the chance to play in a couple of all-star games, but passed up the opportunity.

KENTUCKY: The annual Kentucky at Louisville game this year at Papa John Stadium has been moved from Saturday, Sept. 2 to Sunday, Sept. 3 for an 8 pm kickoff on ESPN. Louisville won its third straight in the series last year, 31-24. The Cardinals have won six of the past seven games. Kentucky still leads the all-time series 10-8.

ARKANSAS: Hog strength and conditioning coaches are trying to get the linemen in better condition for the hurry-up, no-huddle offense that offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is trying to implement.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks are in the process of preseason workouts. Syvelle Newton is working out with the team in the latter stages of rehab for his Achilles tendon injury. Backup quarterback Cade Thompson is trying to add 15 to 20 pounds to his 175-pound frame.

MORE SEC NEWS: League coaches have basically refused to even discuss adding a ninth SEC game to the schedule because of the possibility of another loss. Several coaches have blamed athletic directors for the addition of the 12th game.

MIAMI: Kayne Farquharson (6-2, 185), a receiver from El Camino, California Junior College is the Canes latest commitment. DeMarcus VanDyke (6-1, 170), a defensive back from Miami Pace, has committed to the Canes. He still plans on visiting Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin. Miami signee Daniel Stegall has decided to pursue a career in baseball after being drafted by the New York Mets as a seventh-round selection. Stegall is the second quarterback to leave the Canes in two years. Last year, Pat Devlin committed to Miami then left to sign with Penn State. Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman are the only two quarterbacks on roster. The No. 3 quarterback is Jorge Fernandez, a walk-on. Cane coaches are hoping that Nick Fanuzzi, a quarterback from San Antonio Churchill High, who is another star baseball player that committed to Miami for 2007, doesn’t change his mind if he is drafted.

Cane coaches are testing players this week. After agility and speed drills, cornerback Bruce Johnson is the fastest Cane with a time of 4.34 seconds in the 40 yard dash. Receiver Darnell Jenkins and cornerback Glenn Sharpe were not far behind with a time of 4.37. Tight end Greg Olsen ran a 4.5 down from 4.71. Defensive back Rashaun Jones led the team with a vertical jump of 41.5. Linebacker Willie Williams had a leap of 41.

FLORIDA STATE: The Noles men’s track team won the NCAA national title over the weekend. Freshman defensive back Michael Ray Garvin was instrumental this season in helping the team. He finished fourth in the 200 meters. Damien McDaniel, the receiver signee from Landstown in Virginia Beach, is hoping to miss a redshirt season especially after signee Brent Brewer decided to play baseball and Rod Owens could be slowed after coming off ACL surgery.

Nole quarterback Xavier Lee is a part of the Noles summer workouts. He is testing out his shoulder after having surgery six months ago. Lee said he is 85% back. One of the top priorities for the offensive line is to get bigger and stronger. For instance, Jacky Claude, who has reduced his body fat to 27%, is now squatting 425 pounds instead of 400. Safety Kenny Ingram has been spotted at preseason workouts. He is not officially back academically, but he is working to be re-instated. Ingram has done some work at Tallahassee Community College in order to become eligible.

CLEMSON: Stanley Hunter (5-11, 205), a linebacker from Duncan-James Byrnes, is commitment No. 8 for the Tigers. He is from the same school as heralded quarterback Willy Korn, another verbal committment.

MARYLAND: Former Baltimore Ravens assistant Phil Zacharias is the new running backs coach replacing former offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe. The hiring means coach Ralph Friedgen will be the offensive coordinator. Terp officials had talked to former assistant Mike Locksley, the offensive coordinator at Illinois about joining the staff. Locksley’s contract terms limited the negotiations.

SHORTENING THE GAME: Last season, the average college football game was 3 hours and 21 minutes long compared to 3:07 for the NFL. The longest bowl game was the Orange Bowl that ended after 4:45 (overtimes included).

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.