Alabama has a commitment for 2008 from Jermaine Preyear (5-11, 196), a running back from Davidson High in Mobile, Ala. Preyear, who has 4.5 speed, ran for over 1,000 yards last season. Auburn, Florida State and Tennessee have shown interest. Brandon Lewis (6-3, 260), a defensive end from Pleasant Grove has committed to Alabama. As a junior he had 88 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. One of the big spring questions for Alabama defensive back coach Kirby Smart is who plays opposite Simeon Castille at the other cornerback position. Senior Eric Gray and junior Lionel Mitchell are two possible candidates. Tickets for the Alabama vs. FSU game in Tallahassee went on sale to the public Wednesday morning. Heavy demand caused the Internet site to be closed after three hours.

Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee spent time with the press last week. He wants to make the Hog passing game as effective as the running game. Lee said he is looking forward to working with quarterback Casey Dick, who is the only scholarship quarterback on the team. The No. 2 quarterback is Nathan Emert, a Missouri Southern transfer. He is thrilled that receiver Marcus Monk decided to return. Lee said he recruited former quarterback Robert Johnson who has been moved to receiver. Coach Houston Nutt and his mother escaped injury on Sunday after the landing gear on a private plane didn’t function correctly causing an emergency landing. Former Hog quarterback Mitch Mustain has been given his release.

Auburn junior walk-on receiver Rod Smith caught a team-high four passes for 71 yards in the scrimmage Saturday. He also caught a touchdown from quarterback Brandon Cox, who was 13- of- 23 for 138 yards. The Tiger quarterbacks were a combined 21- of- 48 for 242 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. Redshirt freshman Neil Caudle completed a 38-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman Tim Hawthorne, who had two catches for 42 yards. Hawthorne was involved in a car accident on Sunday morning that left him with bruises and severe rib bruises. One of his friends died in the wreck. Cornerback Walter McFadden had a pick six on Caudle that he returned 58 yards for a score. He also had two pass-breakups. Walk-on Ross Gornall made all three of his field goal attempts with none of them less than 37 yards. Tailback Brad Lester led all rushers with 80 yards on 18 carries. Linebacker Chris Evans had 11 tackles. Patrick Trahan, another linebacker, had 10 tackles.

After Auburn coaches reviewed the film of the scrimmage, they singled out redshirt freshman defensive back Zac Etheridge and junior linebacker Chris Evans for their play. Coach Tommy Tuberville mentioned defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks for his play, but Marks sustained an ankle injury that could put him out the remainder of spring. Defensive tackle Jermarcus Ricks is having his knee scoped. He is probably out for the remainder of the spring. Blake Fields remains the No. 2 quarterback after film study. Tuberville praised receiver Terrell Zachery for his improvement. Buddy Wyatt, the former Alabama assistant, who is now on the Nebraska staff, visited practice this week.

Florida co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said spring practice is going to be a challenge with only four scholarship linebackers. Still, Strong said the defense has to scrimmage for the players to improve. Strong is excited to see what Dustin Doe and Brandon Spikes will be able to do as possible starters. He also added that A J Jones, who has also bulked up to 210-215 pounds, would have played a lot last year if he had not broken his foot early in fall camp. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Stamper can play all three linebacker positions. Freshmen Brandon Hicks, John Jones and Steve Wilks, a safety in high school who wants to play linebacker, will get a strong look in the summer. Tailback Markus Manson and freshman athlete Joe Haden will get a look at cornerback in the spring. Redshirt freshman tailback Chevon Walker will not move to cornerback.

Georgia began spring practice Monday. They go in full pads on Friday. Bulldog offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said the quarterbacks must have better respect for the football meaning they must prevent turnovers. Bobo said improving fundamentals is the main goal of the spring. He added that even though Matthew Stafford (6-2 as a starter), Joe Cox and Blake Barnes are the established pecking order at quarterback that he wants more competition from the trio. He said Knowshon Moreno breaks tackles with a lot of energy. Bobo is glad to have receiver Sean Bailey back after recovering from a torn ACL since he adds an element of a deep threat. He also cautioned that although the depth is better at offensive line, there is still only Chester Adams, Fernando Velasco, and Daniel Inman who have experience. Seth Watts is no longer on the team. He decided to concentrate on academics. Chris Davis redshirted last year at guard, but had been listed as the No. 1 center on the depth chart.

New Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels quickly changed the lineup around with Josh Davis and Chester Adams at tackle, Davis and Scott Havercamp at guard and Velasco at center. Blair Walsh, a kicker from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons, is verbal commitment No. 8 for the Bulldogs. One of the big questions of spring is who replaces ends Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson. Some of the possibilities are Roderick Battle and Marcus Howard last year’s backups. Jarius Wynn, a Georgia Military transfer, Demarcus Dobbs, Jeremy Lomax and Michael Lemon will also be in the mix. Linebackers Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson and Danny Verdun Wheeler are gone. Brandon Miller is moving from outside to middle linebacker. Darius Dewberry and Dannell Ellerbe are the other expected starters. Brian Mims is the present punter, but freshman Drew Butler will push him in the fall. Sophomore Prince Miller has temporarily beat out Remarcus Brown for the No. 2 cornerback position behind Bryan Evans.

LSU coach Les Miles said he was pleased with the first week of practice. He singled out center Brett Helms, running back Jacob Hester, quarterback Matt Flynn, defensive end Tyson Jackson, linebacker Luke Sanders, and cornerback Chevis Jackson. Tailback Alley Broussard is back at practice after being suspended for the first week. LSU’s first major scrimmage is Saturday. Early Doucet and Trindon Holliday are the two probable kick returners. Jackson has been unblockable this spring. Ricky Jean Francois has been working with the defensive tackles. Marlon Favorite and Charles Alexander are the starting defensive tackles at least until Glenn Dorsey returns in the fall. Miles seems pleased with the transition from offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher to Gary Crowton. There is some thought that Crowton could add some option because of the athleticism of the quarterbacks. Three starters-Helms, guard Herman Johnson and tackle Ciron Black—return on the offensive line. Senior offensive lineman Will Arnold is rehabbing and will return in the fall. Former defensive linemen Lyle Hitt and Carnell Stewart have done well in their transition to the offensive line. The Tigers had a 30- minute scrimmage Tuesday. The No. 1 offense and defense dominated the second units. Doucet had two scoring catches.

Mississippi State cornerback Derek Pegues, who came in at 190 pounds is up to 213, has moved to safety. The move will allow Marcus Washington, Tay Bowser, and Anthony Johnson to play some cornerback. Receivers Jamayel Smith and Aubrey Bell have worked their way into the receiver rotation. Mike Brown, a Florida transfer, took over the left tackle spot at the end of last season and maintained his hold. State’s offensive line improved drastically over the last six games. They allowed only seven sacks in the last half dozen games as compared to 22 in the first six contests. One of Brown’s reasons for leaving Florida was to attend to his sick mother in Atlanta.

Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said the only position that is probably not up for grabs is at tailback with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Receiver Mico McSwain will not practice in the spring due to academic concerns. Quarterback Brent Schaeffer had some good throws in the first practice on Friday. He is in much better physical and academic shape than he was last fall. Orgeron said quarterback Jevan Snead also has looked good. He added that the quarterback competition is open this year unlike last season. The Rebel offensive line could be a strength this season with the return of four players. Center Corey Actis has drawn rave review from the coaches.

South Carolina quarterback signee Stephen Garcia has been arrested for the second time since arriving on campus. This time he was charged with keying a man’s car. He was charged on Feb. 19 with drunkenness and resisting a police officer. He has been suspended from team activities for the remainder of the spring. Garcia has apologized for his behavior and cut his shoulder length hair. Lemuel Jeanpierre, a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle, is one of the successes of the offseason-conditioning program. He has bulked up from 278 to 295 pounds. Steve Spurrier took a flight Thursday in a F-16. The ride lasted about an hour.

Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge was 9- of- 26 for 90 yards and a pick in last Saturday’s scrimmage. (Ainge will miss the rest of spring after it was discovered that he has a partial tear of his medial meniscus in his right knee.) The wind gusted up to 45 miles per hour in the scrimmage. Backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton was 16- of- 24 for 108 yards and a touchdown to Brad Cottam. The running game did well even without injured offensive linemen Josh McNeil (ankle), Anthony Parker (knee) and Eric Young (shoulder). Parker was back on the field Tuesday after having his knee scoped in December. McNeil is not only hurt, but he is also suspended for underage alcohol consumption. Tailbacks Arian Foster (19 for 98 yards) and LaMarcus Coker (8 for 60 yards) combined for 158 yards on 27 carries. Coker is back at practice after lingering affects from a back injury forced him to leave the scrimmage. Coach Phil Fulmer said Coker and Foster have had a great spring. The receivers were a disappointment. Linebacker Dorian Davis and defensive back Anthony Wardlow had seven tackles each. Linebacker J T Turner is no longer on the team due to a violation of team rules. Former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning will host Saturday Night Live on March 24. Offensive lineman Chris Scott played five different positions in Saturday’s scrimmage.

Kentucky freshman receiver Michael Strickland, who made a key catch in the win over Ole Miss, plans on rejoining the team this summer after he temporarily left after last season for medical reasons. He will have a battle to play in a deep receiving corps. Junior safety Marcus McClinton, who intercepted four passes and forced five fumbles, is an aspiring rhythm and blues singer. Junior offensive linemen Garry Williams and Christian Johnson and his brother, freshman linebacker Micah Johnson have been suspended from the team due to academic problems. Also offensive lineman Micah Jones, linebacker Ben McGrath, and cornerback Jarrell Williams are no longer playing football for various reasons.

FSU had a late signee in Taiwan Easterling (5-11, 192), an athlete from Hattiesburg, Ms. He originally committed to Southern Miss. He might play receiver. Easterling faxed his letter of intent on Tuesday. Mat drills ended Friday. Quarterbacks Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee were singled out for their leadership. Both earned perfect scores in one of the morning sessions. Defensive end Kevin McNeil sustained a fractured foot and slight concussion in a one-car accident in Missouri. A passenger in his car was killed. He is expected to have surgery on his foot in the near future. Bob LaCivita, the former director of football operations at Florida and N C State, has been hired for a similar position for FSU. He will serve as recruiting coordinator between high schools and the coaching staff. At running back for FSU this spring is Antone Smith, Marcus Sims, Jamaal Edwards and Russell Ball. Running backs coach Dexter Carter said all had surgery, but all will practice.

Miami has started spring practice. The Canes special teams were a disaster last season. Redshirt freshman Matt Bosher and junior punter Daren Daly have to step up. The longest punt return last year was 25 yards and the longest kickoff return was 34 yards. Freshman running back Graig Cooper could be the kick returner. Cornerback and defensive tackle are the two main concerns on defense. Terez McCray and Antonio Dixon, who both have struggled with knee injuries, will be counted on to lead the defensive line. Glenn Sharpe has been granted a sixth year of eligibility that will help the defensive backs.

Coach Randy Shannon will likely delay naming a starter between Kirby Freeman and Kyle Wright, who has recovered from a fractured right thumb, until fall camp. Defensive back Doug Wiggins is also expected to make an immediate impact. Wiggins can also return kicks. Some of the players who need to be replaced are linebacker Jon Beason, defensive tackle Kareem Brown, tight end Greg Olsen, defensive back Brandon Meriweather and center Anthony Wollschlager. Terrell Walden is no longer a Cane player. He chose to give up football after battling back after two torn ACL injuries. With George Robinson injured, the only healthy receivers are Lance Leggett, Darnell Jenkins, Sam Shields, Ryan Hill and Khalil Jones. Shannon is trying to lay down the law early. He said anyone caught with a gun would be kicked off the team and out of school. Upperclassmen must maintain a 2.5 GPA to live off campus.

The Canes are considering moving from the Orange Bowl to Dolphin Stadium. A decision to move could happen in the next three months. Miami’s lease with the Orange Bowl runs through 2009, but the Canes could leave before then. They will play in the Orange Bowl next season. The city is trying to upgrade the Orange Bowl, but there is a funding gap of $84 million. Miami has been working with the city for years to renovate the stadium, but delays and the costs have caused the school to look more closely at the Dolphin Stadium deal. Dolphin Stadium seats 75,540 compared to 72,883 in the Orange Bowl. Renovations to the Orange Bowl would reduce seating to 62,500.

Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett is the favorite to take over the job. Freshman Steven Threet (6-5, 230) is his main competition. New offensive coordinator John Bond, who comes over from Northern Illinois, will work with both quarterbacks.

Louisville will not play many Saturdays in 2007. They have four Thursday night games and two Friday games.

ESPN will add a college football show this fall called “College Football Live” that will be shown beginning on July 23 and run through the bowl season. It is modeled after NFL Live and will be hosted mostly by Rece Davis. Most of the ESPN college football talent will join him. The show will come on at 3:30 pm Monday-Friday.

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.