Tiger linebackers Kevin Sears, a senior, and redshirt freshman Tray Blackmon have been suspended for an indefinite period not three games as reported by ESPN. Sears was expected to battle Karibi Dede for the starting Mike linebacker slot. The Tigers must replace three starters on the defensive line and six of the true freshmen are defensive linemen. Cornerback Jerraud Powers (5-9, 177) was impressive on the first day of drills. He missed most of last fall with a foot injury.

FLORIDA: Coach Urban Meyer told Jacksonville boosters that the day of quarterback signee Tim Tebow’s announcement that he was heading home, but got stuck in traffic. During his stop, Tebow called him crying and said he had made a decision when suddenly his phone went dead. He called a coach at Nease High (Tebow’s school), but the staff had already left for the presser. Meyer went out in the yard to play catch with his son instead of watching the announcement. He said that he didn’t know until his wife came out and told him that Tebow decided to play for Florida. Meyer told the Jacksonville crowd that he expects defensive back Reggie Lewis to have a big season despite his lack of productivity. This spring 41% of the football team had a GPA of 3.0. Florida had 20 seniors and 34 players with four years of eligibility. Meyer wants to see more of an even ratio across the board.

Meyer also said the staff has a history of playing the backup quarterback. The backup didn’t play much last season due to a tendency to fumble. Tight end Tate Casey had a great summer and is up to 240 pounds. Meyer called tight end Cornelius Ingram the most improved player on the team. Defensive end Jarvis Moss is up to 253 pounds after struggling with his weight for years. Defensive lineman Ray McDonald is back at full speed. The secondary is Lewis and Reggie Nelson at corner and Tony Joiner and Kyle Jackson at safety. If one of the freshmen, or Ryan Smith, who is yet to be enrolled, could take over at corner, then Nelson would be moved back to safety. ESPN2 has shown an interest in televising the opener against Southern Miss at 12:30 pm, but the game will probably be a pay-per-view broadcast at night. Former Gator Avery Atkins is not transferring to Bethune Cookman according to BCC coach Alvin Wyatt. Stephen Garcia (6-2, 205), the heralded quarterback from Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson, did well at the EA Sports Elite 11 Camp. He was selected as the third best quarterback at the camp behind John Brantley (Texas) and Willie Korn (Clemson). South Carolina is his leader with Florida a close second. He is also looking at Ole Miss and Louisville.

GEORGIA: The Bulldogs begin practice Saturday. Tony Taylor, Brandon Miller, Jarvis Jackson and Danny Verdun are solid starters at linebackers. Sophomores Dannell Ellerbe (who is suspended the first three games) and Marcus Washington are the backups. Darius Dewberry, Akeem Dent, Akeem Hebron and Darryl Gamble are freshmen who are vying for playing time. Dewberry is one year older and had a terrific season last year at Hargrave Military. Neland Ball (6-5, 220), a defensive end from Jackson (Ga.) High, committed to Georgia over Auburn. He said the recent academic allegations at Auburn swayed him to Georgia over the Tigers. Coach Mark Richt, 52-13, signed his eight-year, $16 million contract Monday. His salary has been raised from $1.5 million to $2 million per year. Antwane Greenlee (6-5, 302), a four-star offensive lineman from Columbus Georgia Hardaway, has decomitted from FSU and committed to Georgia. He visited Athens recently and committed during the visit. Clifton Geathers (6-7, 280), an offensive tackle from Carver Bays, S.C., did not qualify. He never did sign a letter of intent with the Bulldogs. He has been working with an academic counselor. Offensive linemen signees Justin Anderson and Ben Harden are going to Hargrave Military Academy. Western Kentucky at Georgia is the opener for the Lincoln Financial Network. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. The second game is Auburn at Mississippi State.

ARKANSAS: Paul Eells, the voice of Arkansas football, was killed in a car accident Monday night on his way back from the Houston Nutt golf tournament. The Hogs must also regroup after starting tailback Darren McFadden had surgery on his big toe after a weekend altercation at a nightclub and will probably miss the opener against Southern Cal. The Hogs still have capable backs in Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis and redshirt freshman Michael Smith.

LSU: Phil Loadholt (6-9, 345), an offensive tackle signee from Garden City (Kan.) Community College, has not qualified. He will return to Garden City and decide what to do in January. His return to LSU is questionable at best. Heralded running back signee Keiland Williams, who played at Hargrave Military last season, said he has qualified and will report to camp this week. Josh Dworaczyk (6-5, 270), a three-star offensive lineman from New Iberia-Catholic, has committed to LSU. Texas A & M, Duke and Northwestern have offered him.

SOUTH CAROLINA: A pair of reserves, senior receiver Noah Whiteside and junior safety Ty Erving will miss the first three games of the season against Mississippi State, Georgia and Wofford due to breaking university policy. Whiteside still is not academically eligible. Coach Steve Spurrier is still upset over the second half collapse in the bowl game. Quarterback Blake Mitchell, who has gained 20 pounds and is up to 206 pounds, has improved this summer by leading workouts and watching hours of film. Junior college transfer Jasper Brinkley has claimed the starting role at middle linebacker. Spurrier told him in the spring not to tackle so hard. Still, Spurrier said at SEC Media Days that his biggest concern was stopping the run because USC was No. 11 in the SEC in doing so. Jamire Williams (6-0, 180), a cornerback from First Coast (Fla.) High, has the Gamecocks as his favorite team. He is the No. 54 overall prospect from the state. Florida offered him last week. Arkee Smith (6-1, 185), a safety from First Coast High in Jacksonville, said he had pretty much decided to commit to South Carolina, but has not made it public.

TENNESSEE: Redshirt freshman defensive back Marsalous Johnson was arrested Sunday night and charged with felony aggravated assault after he allegedly waived a pellet gun at an off-duty Putnam County Sheriff’s deputy. Redshirt freshman Rico McCoy was also in the car with him, but was not charged. Johnson has been given a four game suspension. Earlier this season, senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge. Although he is still suspended, Mitchell is expected back for the opener according to coach Phil Fulmer. Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Raymond Henderson was dismissed from the team for an inappropriate comment he made to an adolescent girl. He has since transferred to Minnesota.

Josh Hawkins (6-1, 190), a three-star running back/linebacker from Loudon’s (Tenn.) High, has committed to Tennessee over Kentucky, West Virginia and Mississippi State. Fulmer is very frustrated that the NCAA Clearinghouse has yet to release defensive end Gerald Williams, who is from Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. He resigned in February after the NCAA Clearinghouse would not certify him last year. Williams has retaken a questionable class and improved his ACT score in the meantime. Position battles are important for camp. Redshirt freshman Josh McNeil is an important part of the line. If he can play center, then David Ligon and Anthony Parker will move to guard. True freshman tight end Lee Smith has been dismissed from the team after his arrest on DUI charges. His status was already in jeopardy after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with as assistant principal at his high school and grade tampering. In the past three months, four Vol players have been arrested. Redshirt freshman offensive guard Malcolm Rawls has left the team and is planning on transferring. Redshirt freshman receiver Slick Shelley is in the hospital with abdominal pains.

OLE MISS: Quarterback signee Brent Schaeffer is on campus and expected to join the team Thursday. He graduated from the College of Sequoias and passed 40% of his course work toward the completion of a degree. He has also had to deal with some personal issues that made it more realistic to complete his course work in California. Junior college signee Aubrey McPhadden may not complete his course work in time to enroll. The Jacksonville, Fla., native might end up in another junior college. Rebel officials are still waiting on defensive tackle Jerrell Powe and offensive lineman John Jerry, both from Hargrave Military, to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. They are also awaiting answers on the eligibility of linebacker Rory Johnson, and receiver Terry Levy. Receiver Carlos Suggs, a junior, broke his collarbone in June and will probably miss the first couple of weeks of practice.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Over 100 players reported on Tuesday. Signees Alex Carpenter and Courtney Jones are awaiting certification and Tulane transfer Christian Ducre has yet to enroll. Defensive tackle Alex Dekle will enroll in junior college.

ALABAMA: Quarterback John Parker Wilson has drawn rave reviews from his teammates that his maturity has shown in workouts. Wilson has mobility that Brodie Croyle didn’t have. He will be used on more rollouts instead of straight dropbacks. The first three games Hawaii (PPV), Vanderbilt (FSN South) and Louisiana-Monroe (PPV) are going to be televised.

FLORIDA STATE: Sophomore receiver Richard Goodman has been the surprise of summer workouts. He has bested every defensive back who has tried to cover him. Last year, he received similar accolades but they didn’t produce in games. He caught four caches for 40 yards, but nagging injuries, dropped passes and a celebration penalty against Wake Forest pushed him down the depth chart.

Junior defensive tackle Paul Griffin (500 pound bench, 560 squat and 380 clean) and senior linebacker Buster Davis (410 pound bench, 590 pound squat and 370 pound clean) tied for the annual strength index championship. Linebacker Lawrence Timmons and running back Antone Smith were next in order. Receiver De’Cody Fagg defended his title in the performance test championships (vertical, pro agility run, broad jump, 10-yard dash and 40-yard dash). Surprisingly, offensive lineman John Frady, who is 315 pounds, was second. Linebacker Marcus Ball was the best tester of the freshmen. He has a record 3.79 second pro agility run. Cornerback Jamie Robinson is out of action for 4-6 weeks while recovering from a sprained ankle. FSU might have its entire class of signees come in except for receiver Brent Brewer who went to minor league baseball, if Prattville, Ala., linebacker Tim Rawlinson qualifies. He is awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse.

FSU summer workout awards have been given out. Davis and Drew Weatherford won the most valuable player awards; Defensive back Tony Carter, who is nearly 170 pounds, won the purple-heart award; the most improved player on offense was fullback Joe Surratt and offensive lineman Shannon Boatman and the most improved player on defense was Griffin. The top conditioned player on defense was lineman Everette Brown and the top conditioned player on offense was receiver Chris Davis

MIAMI: Coach Larry Coker said receiver Ryan Moore, running back Tyrone Moss, linebacker James Bryant and Rashaun Jones, who is now a receiver from cornerback, have all been suspended for the opener against FSU for violating team policy. Moore is suspended for two games and the other players only for FSU. Coker said Sam Shields and George Robinson will help with Moore out. Lance Leggett and Darnell Jenkins are also available. Coker said earlier this week that Jenkins should have a fabulous season. Charlie Jones replaces Moss.

The Canes have a new signee in Daren Daley, a punter from Taravella (Fla.) High. He actually walked on at FSU his first year, but left after he didn’t receive a promised scholarship. He spent his second year at FSU as a student. Shields drew rave reviews from some of the Canes vets. Offensive lineman Orlando Franklin and cornerback Chavez Grant has also been praised. Defensive end Chris Lewis has been granted his release from Miami. He is transferring to Fresno State. Rivals.com rated Lewis the No. 9 defensive end coming out of high school. Louisville inquired about former Cane linebacker Willie Williams, but Miami would not release him there. Williams has also been mentioned as a possibility for Fresno State.

CLEMSON: Cliff Matthews (6-4, 233), the Rivals No. 4 weakside defensive lineman from Cheraw, will decide on August 17 between Georgia, Clemson and South Carolina. Brian Linthicum (6-4, 225) a tight end out of Charlottesville, Va., has committed to Clemson.

SOUTHERN CAL: Nease (Fla.) High offensive lineman James Wilson (6-4, 308) has committed to the Trojans over Notre Dame.

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.