AUBURN: The Tigers have 22 verbal commitments after receiving several this week. Freddie Smooth (6-5, 300), a three-star defensive lineman from Desire Street Academy in Baton Rouge said Auburn and Oklahoma were his top two schools after visiting the Tigers last weekend. He has upcoming visits to North Carolina, USC and LSU. Enrique Davis (5-11, 220), a five-star running back from Hargrave Military Academy in Va., is no longer committed to Auburn. He is visiting Ole Miss this weekend and Tennessee next weekend. Davis is also interested in FSU and Maryland. He almost committed to Auburn last year.

Christian Thompson (6-1, 195), a two-star safety from St. Thomas (Fla.) Aquinas, has committed to Auburn. Miami, Syracuse and Mississippi State also offered him. Onterrio McCalebb (5-10, 160), a four-star all-purpose back from Fort Meade, Fla., has committed to Auburn. Clemson, North Carolina and West Virginia have offered him. Philip Pierre-Louis (5-10, 175), a three-star receiver from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., also committed to the Tigers. Mississippi State and Syracuse are recruiting him.

Coach Tommy Tuberville has named Paul Rhoads, the Pitt defensive coordinator to the same position at Auburn. Rhoads was making $180,000 at Pitt, but would make close to $400,000 at Auburn. Pitt was No. 5 in the nation in total defense last year. Dave Campo, a Jacksonville Jaguar assistant, San Diego linebacker coach John Pagano, Houston Texan secondary coach Jon Hoke, Cincinnati defensive coordinator Joe Tresey were mentioned as possibilities.

TENNESSEE: New Vol offensive coordinator Dave Clawson and receiver coach Latrell Scott were introduced in a Saturday presser. Clawson replaces David Cutcliffe and Scott takes over for Trooper Taylor. Fulmer is still looking for a tight ends coach. Possibilities are Sparky Woods, Chris Scelfo, George Quarles, a high school coach at Maryville, Tenn., and Jason Michael, the tight ends coach with the Jets.

Three Vol players-receivers Gerald Jones and Ahmad Paige and defensive tackle William Brimfield—were cited for having pot in their car last Friday after being stopped by a police officer. They also had a recruit from Oklahoma in the car with them. Coach Phil Fulmer said all three would be disciplined and drug tested more often. None of the three will be allowed to host recruits for a year.

Vol running back Arian Foster will return for his senior year. He has a chance to pass Travis Henry (3,078 yards) if he runs for 685.

ARKANSAS: Former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett has officially transferred to Arkansas He has three years of eligibility remaining. Running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have declared their intentions of entering the NFL draft.

The Razorbacks begin the 2008 season with home games against Western Illinois and Louisiana Monroe before traveling to Texas. Their SEC schedule begins with consecutive home games against Alabama and Florida, then road games at Auburn and Kentucky, before another home game against Ole Miss. Arkansas hosts Tulsa and former assistant Gus Malzahn on Nov. 1.

KENTUCKY: Coach Rich Brooks has been given an extension and a decision has been made that when he retires, offensive coordinator Joker Phillips will replace him. Secondary coach David Lockwood has left for a similar job at West Virginia.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Steve Spurrier has had 12 defensive coordinators in 19 years. None have stayed longer than three years. Three have been fired or demoted. South Carolina officials are ready to start the biggest overall facility upgrade in school history. The football training facilities and locker rooms underneath the stadium and a new $11 million academic center are next on the horizon. A new baseball facility is already underway. Running back Mike Davis could be suspended for the first two games of next season due to academics. South Carolina begins next season with consecutive ESPN Thursday night games against N C State and Vanderbilt.

Tommy Streeter (6-6, 200), a four-star receiver from Miami (Fla.) Northwestern, is visiting this weekend. He broke his radius bone in an all-star game recently. Streeter is also looking at Boston College, South Florida and Oregon. Ronald Byrd (6-7, 260), a three-star defensive end from Hogansville, Ga., committed to South Carolina over the weekend. Arkansas, Louisville, Auburn, Purdue and Indiana have offered him.

ALABAMA: Tide offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite has taken the running backs coach position on the Texas staff to replace Ken Rucker, who took an administrative position. One possible snag was Applewhite wanted to work with quarterbacks and Greg Davis is the Texas quarterback coach.

Possibilities to replace Applewhite are Clemson receivers coach Dabo Swinney, Louisville offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm, Freddie Kitchens, the tight ends coach at Arizona, Chip Kelly, the offensive coordinator at Oregon, Chris Hatcher at Georgia Southern, Adam Gase, the quarterbacks coach at Detroit, Gary Crowton, the offensive coordinator at Oregon, Tom Clements, the quarterbacks coach at Green Bay, Joe Pendry, the current Alabama offensive line coach. Former Michigan assistant coach Scot Loeffler reportedly arrived for an interview Thursday night. He worked with Michigan quarterbacks for six years. Bobby Williams, the former Michigan State coach, has been hired as tight ends coach.

Tide offensive lineman Antoine Caldwell is returning for his senior season. Caldwell said he was projected to be a third round selection. Alonzo Lawrence (6-1, 190), a Rivals100 athlete from Lucedale, Ms., visited Alabama last weekend. His new top four are Alabama, Ole Miss, FSU and Miami. FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews visited with him earlier this week and made significant progress. He visits Ole Miss this weekend. He visited Alabama last weekend. Lawrence is going to Miami next weekend and will possibly visit FSU.

FLORIDA: T J Pridemore (6-1, 228), a three-star linebacker from Buford, Ga., has committed to Florida after a weekend visit. He will likely play on offense at fullback. Eight freshmen and two junior college players are already enrolled. Omar Hunter (6-1, 295), a Rivals100 defensive tackle from Buford, Ga., has decommited from Notre Dame and has Florida, Georgia and Southern Cal as his final three schools. Franklin Green (5-11, 201), a three-star running back from Savannah, Ga., said he is not going to Florida due to academics. He added that if he makes the grades then he is going to Georgia Southern. T J Lawrence, (6-0, 185), a Rivals250 receiver from Lakeland Kathleen, said he is down to Florida, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. He visited Florida last weekend and will visit South Carolina this weekend. Milton Knox (5-8, 192), a four-star running back from Lake Balboa, Calif., is down to either Florida or UCLA. Knox said the changes with the UCLA staff have made him rethink his decision.

Lerentee McCray (6-2, 200), a four-star linebacker from Dunnellon, Fla., chose Florida over Florida State. Terrelle Pryor (6-6, 235), a five-star Rivals100 quarterback from Jeanette, Pa., will visit Michigan on Jan. 18. He said Florida, Oregon, LSU, Penn State and Ohio State are on his list. LSU is the new addition. Many believe he will go to Ohio State.

Jamie Harper (6-0, 210), a Rivals250 four-star running back from Trinity Christian in Jacksonville, Fla., said he will visit Florida this weekend after talking to offensive coordinator Dan Mullen earlier in the week. He still might visit FSU. Harper said he doesn’t agree with reports that say Clemson is his leader. Miami and Illinois coaches visited him earlier this week. Brandon Harris (5-10, 174), a four-star cornerback from Miami Booker T. Washington, has already visited Ohio State, Florida and LSU. He has a trip scheduled to Miami next weekend. Harris said he might also visit Rutgers, South Florida, Central Florida or Wisconsin.

Gator coach Urban Meyer contacted Clemson coach Andre Powell for the vacant running back position, but Powell refused an interview. Meyer said the Gators could have as few as six senior starters in 2008, two more than in 2007.

GEORGIA: Tight end coach David Johnson has taken a job at West Virginia. Possible replacements are Nole defensive ends coach John Lily, FSU assistant Jody Allen, former Nole offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden, former FSU assistant Billy Sexton or former Georgia assistant and former Tulane coach Chris Scelfo.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs start spring practice next month and finish with a spring game on March 29. Coach Sly Croom has been given an extension through the 2011 season.

OLE MISS: Offensive lineman Michael Oher declared for the NFL draft earlier in the week, but changed his mind. He started 34 straight games over three seasons. Kent Austin, formerly of the CFL and a former Rebel quarterback, has accepted the job as offensive coordinator at Ole Miss.

LSU: Defensive end Tyson Jackson and linebacker Ali Highsmith are both returning for their senior seasons. Receiver Trindon Holliday is transitioning into the LSU track team where he has a chance to make the Olympic team. Patrick Johnson (6-1, 193), a five-star cornerback from Pompano Beach (Fla.) Ely and the USA Today Defensive Most Valuable Player, has had his ACT scores flagged. The last day to drop or add a class at LSU is Jan. 24.

CLEMSON: Junior running back James Davis said he wants to return to Clemson. He has to produce paperwork that states he didn’t sign with an agent and wants to withdraw his name from the draft list.

FLORIDA STATE: Quarterback Xavier Lee has not enrolled in school and will not be on the team. He will not transfer to another school, but workout and prepare for the NFL combines. After offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher asked him to switch to another position, it was the last straw for Lee. Keith Wells (6-5, 211), a three-star defensive end from Gainesville, Ga., is no longer a Florida State commitment. However, he said FSU and Ohio State are his leaders. He is going to visit Tennessee, Florida and Miami before he decides. The Colorado game on Sept. 27 has been officially set for Jacksonville. Linebackers Vincent Williams and Nigel Bradham and defensive back Terrance Parks have already enrolled.

MIAMI: Coach Randy Shannon has fired receivers coach Marquis Mosely. Former Gator receiver Aubrey Hill, an assistant with Pitt, has replaced him. Defensive coordinator Tim Walton was fired a few weeks ago. Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young, 61, has accepted the same position at Miami. Defensive tackle Chris Perry has left school and returned home to Texas. He redshirted last season due to a leg injury.

Three Miami Northwestern players—quarterback Jacory Harris, linebacker Sean Spence and receiver Aldarius Johnson-- have hit a glitch on their paperwork to enroll early due to grades from an online course. They have until Jan. 22 to get all the paperwork in. Joe Wylie, an athlete from Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Boyd Anderson, ended up a half credit short of being able to qualify for midterm.

GEORGIA TECH: Starting offensive tackle Andrew Gardner will return for his senior season.

SEC HOOPS
Tennessee, Vandy, Ole Miss, Florida and Alabama are top five scoring teams.

Mississippi State, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky are the top five scoring defenses.

Florida, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Vandy are the top five teams in scoring margin.

RPI rankings-Tennessee No. 1, Vanderbilt No. 10, Ole Miss No. 14, Arkansas No. 37, Florida No. 71, Mississippi State 85, South Carolina No. 100, Alabama No. 102, Auburn No. 149, Georgia No. 153,

RPI by Conference (in order): ACC, Pac 10, Big East, Big 12, SEC, Big 10, A-10

VANDERBILT (16-2, 1-2) HOSTS LSU (7-10, 0-3): Vandy lost to Tennessee by 20 points on Thursday. The Commodores committed 22 turnovers. Vandy came into the Tennessee game averaging 86 ppg and shooting 48% from the field, but the Commodores give up the most points in the league allowing 75 ppg. The Commodores have 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game.

Vandy lost in double- overtime loss to Kentucky. Vanderbilt trailed at one point in the second half by 16 points. Senior guard Shan Foster led the Commodores with 20 points.

Freshman center A J Ogilvy (shooting 64% from the floor) had 16 points and five rebounds. He is averaging 19 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Wing Shan Foster (who is shooting 51% from three-point range) averages 20 ppg and senior guard Alex Gordon averages 10 ppg. Vandy has scored 80 or less points in three of its last four games after going above that mark in 11- of- 14 contests.

KENTUCKY (7-8, 1-1) AT FLORIDA (15-3, 2-1): Kentucky closed to within two points late in the game against Mississippi State, but couldn’t overcome the Bulldogs’ defensive effort. Senior guard Ramel Bradley is on fire. He scored 22 points in the loss, his fifth straight game with at least 20 points making him the first Wildcat to do so since Jamal Mashburn in 1992-93. Sophomore guards Derrick Jasper (knee) and Jodie Meeks (hip) have been limited. Kentucky has allowed their opponents too many offensive rebounds. Freshman forward Patrick Patterson leads Kentucky averaging 16 points and eight boards per game. Senior guard Joe Crawford average 16 ppg and Bradley is averaging 15 ppg.

This is a team that has gone through a lot with coach Tubby Smith, dealing with the rumors about Billy Donovan, losing to Garner-Webb, UAB, Houston and San Diego, and being told that they have little talent. Patterson scored a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Vanderbilt. Bradley had 20 points and Joe Crawford scored 17. The double overtime game was the first in Rupp Arena history.

OHIO STATE (12-5, 3-2) AT TENNESSEE (15-1, 3-0): Tennessee has won 10 straight games. Wayne Chism had career highs in points (18) and rebounds (18) in the win over Vanderbilt Thursday night. The Vols lead the league in scoring (86 ppg), steals (11.5 spg) and assists per game (20 apg). Tennessee is struggling to outrebound its opponents. The Vols caused 23 turnovers per game in non-conference play, but only 10 and 17 against Ole Miss and South Carolina. Tennessee played better half court defense during the Vandy win.

Nine Vols are averaging at least 13 minutes per game. The Vols are, 15-1, even with Chris Lofton struggling with his shooting. The Vols had a, 23-5, run early in the first half to blow out the Gamecocks. Tennessee is off to its best start in seven years. The Vols are playing hard and improving their half court defense. Tyler Smith and JuJuan Smith are carrying the team until Lofton improves his game.

Ohio State trailed Michigan State by 21 points in the first half, but rallied to lose by only six points. Jamar Butler had 21 points and seven assists.

SOUTH CAROLINA (9-8, 1-2): South Carolina head coach Dave Odom is resigning at the end of the season. He has a, 37-62, SEC mark and is, 3-4, against Clemson. Gamecock fans booed Odom during the loss to Tennessee. Sophomore guard Devan Downey scored 29 points, four assists and six steals in the win over Arkansas.

MISSISSIPPI STATE (12-5, 3-0) AT ALABAMA (11-7, 0-3): Mississippi State, winners of seven straight games, leads the league in scoring defense allowing only 72 ppg. State beat Kentucky on the strength of stellar defense by center Jarvis Varnado, who had a triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks. Guard Jamont Gordon had 24 points including a career high five three-pointers.

The Bulldogs blocked 16 shots in the win over Georgia. Varnado blocked 10 shots. State has won six straight games and held their opponents to 30% shooting during the stretch. State has held consecutive opponents, LSU and Georgia, to under 50 points for the first time since the 1994-95 season. Gordon led the team with 15 points. The team’s chemistry is improving because Gordon is distributing the ball. Senior forward Charles Rhodes did play despite a tender ankle.

ARKANSAS (13-4, 2-1) AT GEORGIA (10-5, 1-1): The Hogs lost their first SEC game to South Carolina Wednesday night. Senior forward Sonny Weems scored 28 points in the win. Arkansas turned the ball over 19 times.

In the Alabama win last Sunday, Arkansas led by 11 points in the middle of the second half before a Tide rally tied the game right before the end of regulation. Point guard Gary Ervin had a big three point shot to regain the lead for the Hogs with 1:29 left in overtime and Arkansas never relinquished the lead again. Darian Townes was 7- of- 8 shooting for 18 points.

LSU (7-10, 0-3) AT VANDERBILT (16-2, 1-2): The Tigers lost their fifth straight game and dropped to 0-2 in the conference for the first time since 2001. This is LSU’s worst start since the 1974-75 season. After trailing by 22 points, LSU rallied against Ole Miss and lost by only three points. Freshman Anthony Randolph had 18 points, 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.

FLORIDA (15-3, 2-1) HOSTS KENTUCKY (7-8, 1-1): Florida has beaten Kentucky six straight times. The Gators nearly rallied to beat Ole Miss Wednesday night. Nick Calathes and Dan Werner led Florida with 16 points, Chandler Parsons added 15 and Walter Hodge scored 13. Ole Miss had, 17-1, and, 19-5, runs in the game. Marreese Speights was held 10 points below his average. Florida has allowed opponents 80 points or more in two of three SEC games.

The Gators closed the Auburn game on an, 11-0, run to post the win. Freshman guard Jai Lucas and Calathes both led the team with 16 points. Auburn outrebounded Florida by 10 in the first half. Werner’s (sprained right foot) has limited him.

OLE MISS (15-1, 2-1) AT AUBURN (10-5, 1-2): Ole Miss beat Florida Wednesday night for the first time since 2002. The Rebels are off to their best start since 1925-26. Dwayne Curtis had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Trevor Gaskins, who hadn’t scored in double figures in seven games, scored 19 points. In both the LSU and Florida games, Ole Miss almost squandered big leads.

Forward Jermey Parnell is out for an extended time with a sprained ankle. Parnell provides a lot of energy for the Rebels when he is on the court. The Rebels are, 25-1, under coach Andy Kennedy at home in his first two seasons. Freshman Chris Warren has scored in double figures in every game this season except for the Florida game. Ole Miss is ranked in the top ten in scoring and rebounding. Florida outrebounded Ole Miss, the first time that has happened all year.

GEORGIA (10-5, 1-1) HOSTS ARKANSAS (13-4, 2-1): The Bulldogs beat Alabama at home Wednesday night. They avenged last year’s loss in Tuscaloosa after leading by 15 points at halftime. Georgia made 10- of- 22 3-point shots, while Alabama made only 3-of- 20. Billy Humphrey led Georgia with 13 points and freshman Jeremy Price added 11.

ALABAMA (11-7, 0-3) HOSTS MISSISSIPPI STATE (12-5, 3-0): The Tide, last in the league in 3-point defense (37%), has lost its first three SEC games for the first time since the 1998-99 season. Alabama is also No. 11 in the SEC in scoring defense allowing 72 ppg. In the Georgia loss, Alabama fell behind by 15 points, but rallied in the final five minutes to close the gap. Junior forward Richard Hendrix led the team with 19 points.

Alabama has lost six- of-eight at Arkansas after losing in overtime Sunday. In the Arkansas game, Alabama shot 35% from the field and 55% from the free throw line. Hendrix had 17 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Alabama hit only 9- of- 28 from the three-point line.

AUBURN (10-5, 1-2) HOST OLE MISS (15-1, 2-1): The Tigers trailed by 17 points in the first half, but scored 11 straight points late in the game to win. Sophomore guard DeWayne Reed scored 20 points. Auburn shot nearly 70% from the field in the second half. The Tigers had five players score nine points or more.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR MYCLAYSUN IN ORANGE PARK, FLA. HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON SPORTS RADIO 1010 XL.