Several Alabama players were available to the media last week. Tailback Ken Darby, who is within 1,077 yards of breaking Shaun Alexander’s Alabama career record, said one of the reasons he came back this season is to beat Auburn. Darby and the other Tide seniors have never beaten the Tigers. Quarterback John Parker Wilson, who has put 30 pounds since coming to Alabama from Hoover (Ala.) High at 180 pounds, said he is now in the process of watching film and picking up defenses. He has also spent two consecutive springs with the offensive staff.

Tide receiver Tyrone Prothro was awarded the 2006 ESPY Award for Best Play on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Protho made a great catch to spark the Tide to a comeback win over Southern Miss

ARKANSAS: Grant Cook (6-6, 305), an offensive lineman from Jonesboro, Ark., has committed to the Hogs. Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are recruiting him.

LSU: Quarterback JaMarcus Russell participated in the Manning passing camp last weekend. Russell, more importantly, is healthy after have wrist and shoulder injuries. LSU staff said he is in the best shape of his career. Russell has switched his number from 4 to 2, which he wore in high school. Coach Les Miles said running back Alley Broussard and Russell are close to 100% in his recovery from a torn ACL.

There have been some concerns about running back signee Keiland Williams coming to campus, but Miles said any academic issues he has will be cleared up before fall camp. He spent last season at Hargrave Military Institute. Miles also said safety Shomari Clemons, running back Richard Murphy, cornerback Jason Teague, defensive tackle Charles Deas and offensive lineman Zhamal Thomas have not been approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Receiver signee Jared Mitchell is trying to decide between football and baseball after being drafted in the 10th round by the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers have only three receivers with experience-Early Doucet, Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis.

LSU officials have agreed to long-term deals to keep both coaches for the next five years with basketball coach John Brady and Miles. For the first time, an incentive for academic performance will be added. Miles contract will be $1.8 million in 2007. If passed Thursday by the LSU board, 13- of- 14 head coaches and seven assistants in basketball and baseball will be getting raises or new packages.

FLORIDA: Gator signee Jarred Fayson is among six players involved in the ESPN special “Summer House” which airs on July 25. The show is about six freshmen players that live together in a house in Chicago.

Who will wear No. 4 this season? Josh Portis and Avery Atkins have worn the number the past two seasons.

Lorenzo Edwards (6-2, 220), a safety/linebacker from Orlando Edgewater, is visiting Gainesville again on July 21. He has visited all the state schools plus Notre Dame, Michigan and Northwestern. He wants to major in Architecture. G J Kinne (6-2, 205), a quarterback from Gilmer, Texas, will announce his decision between Florida and Baylor on Sunday on television (FSN Southwest’s SOUTHWEST SPORTS REPORT)

There are improvements for the Gator football facilities on the drawing board such as expansion of the coaches offices, weightrooms, recruiting rooms. Athletic director Jeremy Foley wants to build a “front door” that leaves no doubt where the main access to Gator football is. Foley also said he was confident that Urban Meyer will get the job done at Florida and win championships.

GEORGIA: Clint Boling (6-5, 260), an offensive tackle from Alpharetta, Ga., committed to the Bulldogs over the weekend. Bruce Figgins (6-4, 238), a tight end from Columbus (Ga.) Shaw, is commitment No. 9 for the Bulldogs. Auburn, Clemson, FSU and South Carolina have offered him.

Bulldog coach Mark Richt has two brief appearances in the movie “Facing The Giants”, a Christian movie set to be released Sept. 29.

SOUTH CAROLINA: When asked why he still gets a positive reaction from Gator fans, coach Steve Spurrier told the Orlando Sentential, “I’ve been fortunate. Since I’ve left, they haven’t won an SEC.”

Spurrier said he also is upset that only 10-15 former players are signed up for the recognition of the 1996 national title team on Sept. 2. He encouraged the former players to sign up.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: There is a chance that ESPN could send the GameDay crew to Starkville for the South Carolina game. No decisions have been made as of yet.

TENNESSEE: The NCAA Clearinghouse has certified offensive line signee Ramone Johnson. He is scheduled to begin classes on Monday.

Since the Georgia loss at home in 2001, the Vols are 11-7 in SEC games at Neyland Stadium. Six of those wins were against Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. In the same span, the Vols are only 2-6 at home against teams in the top 25 and 0-5 against top ten teams.

AUBURN: Senior cornerback Montae Pitts was arrested and charged with drunk driving June 24 in Tuskegee. Pitts has struggled at Auburn. He left briefly to pursue a career as a rap artist in 2002, but he returned to the team. Last season, he played on special teams and as a backup on defense.

FLORIDA STATE: Michael McNeil (6-2, 200), a safety from Mobile, Ala., visited FSU this weekend and was very impressed. McNeil, a member of the Rivals100, is down to FSU, Alabama and Auburn. He visits Auburn next week. Jacoby Monroe (6-2, 280), a four-star defensive lineman from Sandalwood (Fla.) High, has put Georgia Tech at the top of his list after FSU lead for his services for awhile. He also said Florida and South Carolina are in the running. He visited Georgia Tech this past weekend. Monroe missed his junior year after an off-field incident.

Nike has approached athletic director David Hart about the team wearing a special uniform for one game to honor the Seminole Tribe. It could happen at the Boston College game.

FSU is among eight of 119 Division I-A schools with eight home games. The others are Alabama, Auburn, Hawaii, Kansas State, LSU, Memphis and Virginia Tech.

Cameron Wade (6-5, 188), a receiver from Cairo, Ga., has committed to FSU. South Carolina, Louisville and Tennessee have offered him.

FSU Tight end signee Brandon Warren said he has made a 22 on the ACT and should be qualified. There is nothing official yet from the NCAA Clearinghouse or the school.

Nole defensive lineman Paul Griffin (6-1, 285), a junior college transfer from Butler Community College, is getting close to being the strongest player on the team. He is close to being the first player on the team with a 500- pound bench press.

GEORGIA TECH: The Yellow Jackets have four straight homes games to open the season. Kansas State, Purdue and Tennessee have the same situation.

MIAMI: Despite criticism from fans, coach Larry Coker is convinced that he will be at Miami for a long time. Coker (53-9) has the confidence of school president Donna Shalala and the board of trustees (two members said it would take a disaster for him to be fired) and he is owed more than $7 million over the next four years.

Kerry Murphy (6-5, 314), a defensive tackle from Hoover, Ala., has narrowed his choices down to Alabama, Auburn and Miami. Murphy, a Rivals100 member, will visit Miami this month before making his decision.

Cane running back signee Graig Cooper said he will not qualify and will attend Milford Prep Academy.

Former Miami linebacker Willie Williams has been granted his release. He submitted a list of schools that he wanted to be released from and all but one was granted. To his credit, Miami officials said Williams has behaved since he was at Miami. He had a list of 10 prior arrests a few years ago that provided much controversy during his recruitment. Williams played in 10 games last year and had 17 tackles. AD Paul Dee said Williams will not be released to a school on the Canes’s future schedule or to an ACC school. Canesport.com also reported that Coker and Dee attempted to convince Williams into staying.

N C STATE: Chuck Amato’s team rebounded last season with a 7-5 finish. Amato is 23-25 in the ACC with only one top 25 finish. The non-conference schedule is Akron, Appalachian State, Southern Miss and East Carolina.

CLEMSON: Coach Tommy Bowden said he was hopeful that the team would not have any academic causalities.

Tiger offensive lineman Roman Fry is still dealing with the results of a tragic accident that killed track and field coach Jarrett Foster. Fry was driving the watercraft that hit Foster.

MARYLAND: Coach Ralph Friedgen could be under intense heat this season if he doesn’t improve on consecutive 5-6 years. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach returns this season after starting 11 games last year.

NORTH CAROLINA: Coach John Bunting comes into this season with a 16-24 record against the ACC and 24-36 overall. The Tar Heels haven’t had a winning record since 2001, his first season. The non-conference schedule is Rutgers, South Florida, Furman (all at home) and at Notre Dame.

MAGAZINES TOP FIVE: The compilation of LINDY’S, ATHLON, STREET & SMITH, PHIL STEELE AND THE SPORTING NEWS top five teams is as follows: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Southern Cal and Texas (tie), and Oklahoma.

SEC MEDIA DAYS UDPATE:

• Wednesday coaching appearances-Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
• Thursday-Arkansas, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee
• Friday-LSU, Florida, Auburn and Mississippi State

• Florida-Marcus Thomas and Chris Leak
• Alabama-Ken Darby and Ramzee Robinson
• Georgia-Nick Jones and Quentin Moses
• LSU-Dwayne Bowe and LaRon Landry
• South Carolina-Fred Bennett and Mike Davis
• Tennessee-Justin Harrell and Arron Sears
• Auburn-Will Herring and Courtney Taylor

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.