Recruiting news from around the SEC

The action on the recruiting trail is starting to heat up, and the epicenter of this movement over the last couple of weeks has been Knoxville, Tenn.

The Volunteers picked up a number of commitments in the wake of a 19-15 loss to UCLA at Neyland Stadium just two weeks ago. Talented athlete DeMarco Cobbs (6-1, 200, Tulsa, Okla./Tulsa Central), who projects as a wide receiver on the next level, committed to the Vols in the aftermath of the defeat along with defensive line teammates Corey Miller (6-4, 231, Duncan, SC/Byrnes) and Brandon Willis (6-2, 260, Duncan, SC./Byrnes).

Florida State’s loss was Tennessee’s gain in this instance. Miller was previously committed to Florida State, while Willis – who seemed all but headed to Tallahassee – seemed poised to anchor what was previously shaping up to be a strong defensive line class for the Seminoles.

While Tennessee was adding to its class, Alabama was making a subtraction from its commitment list. ESPNU 150 selection JaWuan James (6-6, 305, Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) de-committed from the Crimson Tide, citing concerns about possible NCAA violations surrounding the program. James immediately started checking out his other options on the table, taking in Saturday’s Florida-Tennessee game from the south end-zone stands at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The Wildcats had a prolific week on the recruiting trail as Kentucky picked up a trio of commitments in the last several days, starting with a pair of junior college defensive backs in Mychal Bailey (6-0, 205, LaGrange, Ga./Southwest Mississippi CC) and Josh Gibbs (6-0, 200, Valencia, Ca./College of the Canyons). Also committing to the Wildcats was very talented in-state linebacker prospect Malcolm McDuffen (6-2, 205, Hopkinsville, Ky./Christian County) who is one of the best players that Rich Brooks has landed in the 2010 class to date.

Arkansas added to an ever-expanding class with a verbal commitment from defensive back Darrell Smith (6-1, 177, Port St. Joe, Fla./Port St. Joe) out of the Florida panhandle. Smith is a teammate of highly regarded junior prospect Calvin Pryor, who is already receiving considerable attention from in-state powers Florida State, Miami and the Florida Gators.

Even Vanderbilt got in on the action over this past week, picking up highly touted safety Andre Simmons (6-0, 190) out of Virginia. With 21 commitments, Vanderbilt has put together a very solid class that meets most of their needs despite not having a prospect awarded with the ESPN 150 designation.

With built-in limitations to recruit different from its SEC brethren, Vanderbilt has done a good job targeting high school prospects who can play the game and value the quality of the education they will get on the next level. There is no doubt that Bobby Johnson continues to bring solid talent to Nashville, and Vandy will remain a dangerous football program in league play as long as he is there.

Commitments from around the SEC:

FLORIDA

Total verbal commitments: 15 (9 ESPNU 150).

Jonathan Dowling, S, 6-3, 180, Bradenton, Fla./Southeast (ESPNU 150); Demar Dorsey, S, 6-1, 180, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla./Boyd Anderson (ESPNU 150); Mack Brown, RB, 5-11, 185, Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King (ESPNU 150); Ian Silberman, OT, 6-5, 256, Orange Park, Fla./Fleming Island (ESPNU 150); Matt Elam, ATH, 6-0, 205, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./William Dwyer (ESPNU 150); Gerald Christian, TE, 6-3, 220, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./William Dwyer (ESPNU 150); Jaylen Watkins, CB, 6-0, 171, Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral (ESPNU 150); Travon Van, ATH, 5-11, 195, LaMesa, Calif./Helix/Milford Academy (NY); Leon Orr, DT, 6-5, 315, New Port Richey, Fla./Gulf (ESPNU 150); Solomon Patton, WR, 5-10, 175, Mobile, Fla./Murphy (ESPNU 150); Trey Burton, ATH, 6-3, 204, Nokokis, Fla./Venice; Gideon Ajagbe, OLB, 6-2, 201, Coconut Creek, Fla./Ransom Everglades School; Neiron Ball, OLB, 6-4, 200, Jackson, Ga./Jackson; Victor Hampton, CB, 5-10, 167, Darlington, S.C./Darlington; Jordan Haden, S, 5-11, 195, Fort Washington, Md./Friendly; Michael McFarland, TE, 6-5, 225, Tampa, Fla./Howard W. Blake.

ALABAMA

Total verbal commitments: 21 (6 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: DB Demarcus Milliner, ATH, 6-0, 185, Millbrook, Ala./Stanhope Elmore (ESPNU 150).

Sleeper prospect: Ronald Carswell, WR, 6-0, 175, Macon, Ga./Westside.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Phillip Sims, QB, 6-1, 218, Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Frommel Smith (ESPNU 150); Alfy Hill, DE, 6-4, 240, Shallotte, NC/West Brunswick; Brian Vogler, TE, 6-6, 245, Columbus, Ga./Brookstone (ESPNU 150); Chad Lindsay, OG, 6-3, 307, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands (ESPNU 150); Keiwone Malone, WR, 6-1, 168, Memphis, Tenn./Mitchell (ESPNU 150); Harrison Jones, TE, 6-4, 225, Memphis, Tenn./Evangelical Christian School; Jarrick Williams, S, 6-2, 195, Prichard, Ala./M.T. Blount; Corey Grant, RB, 5-10, 180, Opelika, Ala./Opelika; Nick Perry, S, 6-1, 190, Prattville, Ala./Prattville; Craig Sanders, DE, 6-4, 230, Ariton, Ala./Ariton; Wilson Love, DT, 6-4, 264, Mountain Brook, Ala./Mountain Brook; Deion Belue, ATH, 6-0, 175, Tuscumbia, Ala./Deshler; Blake Sims, ATH, 6-0, 175, Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville; Austin Shepherd, OT, 6-5, 316, Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett; Jalston Fowler, OLB, 6-0, 230, Prichard, Ala./Vigor; Cade Foster, K, 6-2, 220, Southlake, Texas/Carroll; Jay Williams, K, 6-3, 210, Thomasville, Ala./Thomasville; Devonta Bolton, OLB, 6-3, 225, Norcross, Ga./Norcross/East Mississippi Community College; Brandon Lewis, DE, 6-3, 270, Birmingham, Ala./Pleasant Grove/East Mississippi Community College.

ARKANSAS

Total verbal commitments: 11 (1 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Cam Feldt, OL, 6-5, 290, Pilot Point, Texas/Pilot Point (ESPNU 150).

Sleeper prospect: Brad Hefley, DT, 6-5, 225, Riverton, Mo./Joplin.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Jeremiah Jackson, DT, 6-2, 265, Birmingham, Ala./Spain Park; Chris Smith, OLB, 6-2, 225, Mount Ulla, N.C./West Rowan; Darrell Smith, DB, 6-1, 177, Port St. Joe, Fl./Port St. Joe; Garrett Uekman, TE, 6-4, 230, Little Rock, Ark./Catholic H.S. for Boys; Eduardo Camara, K, 5-9, 145, Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill; LaCraig Brown, DT, 6-4, 259, Monroe, LA/Mitchell; Braylon Mitchell, ATH, 6-2, 210, Heber Springs, Ark./Heber Springs; Dimitri Orr, DE, 6-6, 245, Oxford, Ala./Oxford; Jordan Rainey, OT, 6-5, 310, Joplin, Mo./Joplin.

AUBURN

Total verbal commitments: 16 (3 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Antonio Goodwin, ATH, 6-1, 170, Atlanta, Ga./Booker T. Washington (ESPNU 150).

Sleeper prospect: Kenneth Carter, DT, 6-4, 265, Greenville, Ala./Greenville.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.):Shaun Kitchens, ATH, 6-3, 213, College Park, Ga./Benjamin E. Banneker (ESPNU 150); Ladarius Owens, DE, 6-2, 225, Bessmer, AL/Jess Lanier; Jawara White, OLB, 6-2, 217, Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson; Shon Coleman, OT, 6-6, 270, Olive Brand, Miss./Olive Branch; Jake Holland, ILB, 6-1, 220, Pelham, Ala./Pelham; Jeremy Richardson, WR, 6-3, 190, Springville, Ala./Springville; Jonathan Mincy, CB, 5-11, 169, Decatur, Ga./Southwest Dekalb; D.J. Howard, RB, 5-11, 195, Lincoln, Ala./Lincoln; Demetruce McNeal, S, 6-1, 177, College Park, Ga./Benjamin E. Banneker; Jessel Curry, FB, 6-2, 200, Buford, Ga./Buford; Justin Delaine, DE, 6-5, 208, Linden, Ala./Linden; Cody Parkey, K, 6-0, 190, Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter Community; Chad Slade, OT, 6-5, 315, Moody, Ala./Moody; Joel Bonomolo, DE, 6-3, 245, Metaire, La./Archbishop Rummel/Fullerton (Calif.) Community College.

GEORGIA

Total verbal commitments: 18 (7 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Alex Ogletree, DB, 6-3, 214, Newnan, Ga./Newnan (ESPNU 150).

Sleeper prospect: Derek Owens, ATH, 5-11, 165, Jacksonville, Fla./Andrew Jackson.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Da’Rick Rogers, WR, 6-2, 205, Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun (ESPNU 150); Brent Benedict, OT, 6-5, 280, Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School (ESPNU 150); Kolton Houston, OG, 6-5, 265, Buford, Ga./Buford (ESPNU 150); T.J. Stripling, OLB, 6-5, 202, Decatur, Ga./Southwest Dekalb (ESPNU 150); Ken Malcome, RB, 5-11, 212, Decatur, Ga./Southwest Dekalb (ESPNU 150); Garrison Smith, DT, 6-3, 250, Atlanta, Ga./Douglass (ESPNU 150); Demetre Baker, OLB, 6-0, 200, Orange Park, Fla./Orange Park; Nickell Robey, CB, 5-8, 160, Frostproof, Fla./Frostproof; B.J. Butler, DE, 6-3, 225, Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola; Deon Rogers, OLB, 6-2, 185, Port St. Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast; Brandon Burrows, DE, 6-3, 235, Marietta, Ga./Walton; Marc Deas, S, 6-0, 185, Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola; Jalen Fields, DE, 6-5, 250, Dalton, Ga./Dalton; Dexter Morant, DE, 6-6, 235, Manning, S.C./Manning; Michael Bennett, WR, 6-3, 187, Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta; Jakar Hamilton, S, 6-1, 195, Johnston, S.C./Strom Thurmond/Georgia Military College.

KENTUCKY

Total verbal commitments: 10 (0 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Tim McAdoo, DT, 6-2, 315, Murfreesboro, Tenn./Oakland.

Sleeper prospect: Teven Eatmon, OT, 6-6, 270, Bucryus, Ohio/Wynford.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Malcolm McDuffen, OLB, 6-2, 205, Hopkinsville, Ky./Christian County; Tyler Brause, ATH, 6-4, 220, Bucyrus, Ohio/Wynford; Justin Henderson, DE, 6-4, 240, Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt; Raymond Sanders, RB, 5-8, 170, Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson; Joe Mansour, K, 6-3, 170, LaGrange, Ga./LaGrange; Davin Hawkins, S, 6-1, 210, Attalia, Ala./Etowah; Mychal Bailey, S, 6-0, 205, LaGrange, Ga./Southwest Mississippi CC; Josh Gibbs, S, 6-0, 200, Valencia, Ca./College of the Canyons.

LOUISIANA STATE

Total verbal commitments: 22 (6 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Jordan Allen, DE, 6-6, 245, West Monroe, La./West Monroe.

Sleeper prospect: Cameron Fordham, TE, 6-4, 230, Duluth, Ga./Northview.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Justin Hunter, WR, 6-4, 172, Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes (ESPNU 150); Mike Davis, WR, 6-0, 176, Dallas, Texas/Skyline (ESPNU 150); Travis Dickson, TE, 6-3, 230, Ocean Springs, Miss./Ocean Springs (ESPNU 150); Eric Reid, S, 6-2, 180, Geismar, La./Dutchtown (ESPNU 150); Tharold Simon, S, 6-4, 185, Eunice, La./Eunice (ESPNU 150); Evan Washington, OT, 6-6, 286, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto (ESPNU 150); Justin Maclin, OLB, 6-3, 220, Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway (ESPNU 150); Zach Lee, QB, 6-3, 190, McKinney, Texas/McKinney; Spencer Ware, RB, 5-11, 225, Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton; Ronnie Vinson, ATH, 5-11, 190, New Orleans, La./Isidore Newman School; Luke Muncie, S, 6-2, 200, Spring, Texas/Klein Oak; Elliot Porter, DT, 6-4, 275, Marrero, La./Archbishop Shaw; Houston Bates, DE, 6-2, 230, Covington, La./Saint Pauls School; Tyrann Mathieu, CB, 5-10, 170, New Orleans, La./Saint Augustine; D.J. Welter, OLB, 6-0, 210, Crowley, La./Notre Dame; Brandon Worle, FB, 6-1, 243, LaGrange, Ga./Troup County Comprehensive; Sam Gibson, ATH, 6-2, 202, Prattville, Ala./Prattville; Dexter Blackmon, DT, 6-2, 265, Selma, Ala./Selma; Nick Jacobs, TE, 6-5, 240, Many, La./Many; Jermarcus Hardrick, OT, 6-7, 295, Courtland, Miss./South Panola/Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Total verbal commitments: 10 (0 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Kaleb Eulls, DL, 6-3, 239, Yazoo City, Miss./Yazoo City.

Sleeper prospect: Blaine Clausell, OL, 6-6, 280, Mobile, Ala./Baker.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Michael Carr, ATH, 6-1, 195, West Point, Miss./West Point South; Brandon Hill, ATH, 6-2, 201, Columbus, Miss./West Lowndes; Curtis Virges, DT, 6-2, 285, West Point, Miss./West Point South; Rajion Neal, RB, 5-11, 199, Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek; Jameon Lewis, ATH, 5-8, 168, Tylertown, Miss./Tylertown; Cordell Giles, DE, 6-4, 225, Benoit, Miss./Ray Brooks School; Malcolm Johnson, WR, 6-1, 200, Tuscaloosa, Ala./Northridge; Rashod Henry, ATH, 5-11, 185, Lumberton, Miss./Lumberton/Pearl River (Miss.) Community College.

OLE MISS

Total verbal commitments: 9 (0 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Randall Mackey, QB/ATH, 6-0, 190, Bastrop, La./Bastrop/East Mississippi Community College.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Clarence Jackson, ATH, 6-2, 219, College Park, Ga. (North Clayton); Cliff Coleman, CB, 5-11, 170, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson; Jeff Scott, ATH, 5-7, 165, Miami, Fla./Archbishop Carroll; Artice Kellam, S, 5-11, 185, Miami, FL/North Carolina Tech (NC); Chase Hughes, OG, 6-3, 290, Springville, AL/Springville; Jared Duke, OT, 6-7, 336, Cleveland, Tenn./Walker Valley; Brishen Mathews, S, 6-0, 185, Monticello, Ark./Monticello; Eric Mitchell, ATH, 6-0, 197, Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Total verbal commitments: 16 (4 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Kelcy Quarles, DT, 6-4, 260, Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood (ESPNU 150).

Sleeper prospect: Brandon Golson, LB, 6-2, 210, St. Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Chris Payne, S, 5-10, 190, Columbia, SC/Fork Union Military Academy (VA); Eric Mack, OG, 6-4, 318, Saint Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County (ESPNU 150); A.J. Cann, OG, 6-3, 260, Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt (ESPNU 150); Sean Tapley, WR, 6-0, 165, Jacksonville, Fla./Raines; Connor Shaw, ATH, 6-1, 194, Flowery Branch, Ga./Flowery Branch; Cody Gibson, OT, 6-5, 260, Tallahassee, Fla./Abraham Lincoln; Corey Robinson, OG, 6-7, 290, Havelock, N.C./Havelock; Cadarious Sanders, CB, 6-0, 185, LaGrange, Ga./Troup County Comprehensive; Tramell Williams, OG, 6-2, 253, Jacksonville, Fla./Robert E. Lee; Brison Williams, S, 5-11, 180, Warner Robins, Ga./Northside; Dylan Thompson, QB, 6-3, 200, Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs; Ronald Patrick, OG, 6-1, 249, Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa; J.T. Surratt, DT, 6-2, 275, Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland; Elliot Williams, DT, 6-6, 285, Woodstock, Ga./Etowah/Georgia Military College.

TENNESSEE

Total verbal commitments: 21 (6 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Markeith Ambles, WR, 6-2, 185, McDonough, Ga./Henry County (ESPNU 150).

Sleeper prospect: J.C. Copeland, DL, 6-1, 245, LaGrange, Ga./Troup County Comprehensive.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): DeMarco Cobbs, ATH, 6-1, 200, Tulsa, Ok./Tulsa Central (ESPNU 150); Brandon Willis, DL, 6-2, 260, Duncan, SC./Byrnes (ESPNU 150); Corey Miller, DE, 6-4, 231, Duncan, SC/Byrnes; Michael Taylor, OLB, 6-0, 193, Ga./Westlake (ESPNU 150); Ted Meline, WR, 6-2, 175, Miami, Fl./ North Miami (ESPNU 150); Tyler Bray, QB, 6-6, 190, Kingsburgh, CA/Kingburgh; Matt Milton, WR, 6-5, 200, Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah; Delvin Jones, DE, 6-5, 221, Miami, Fla./Palmetto; Jacques Smith, DE, 6-3, 225, Ooltewah, Tenn./Ooltewah; Channing Fugate, RB, 6-1, 220, Jackson, Ky./Breathitt County; Marquis Pair, OT, 6-5, 266, Sumter, S.C./Sumter; Jose Jose, OG, 6-2, 355, Miami, Fla./Miami Central; Zach Fulton, OG, 6-4, 304, Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor; Risean Broussard, DT, 6-3, 270, Lake Charles, La./LaGrange; Michael Palardy, K, 6-2, 170, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas; Ralph Williams, OLB, 6-1, 220, Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep; John Brown, DT, 6-2, 300, Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland/University of Florida/ Northeast Mississippi Community College; Patrick Harris, DT, 6-5, 295, Oakland, Calif./Chabot (Calif.) College; Bruce Irvin, ILB, 6-2, 235, Stone Mountain, Ga./Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College.

VANDERBILT

Total verbal commitments: 21 (0 ESPNU 150).

Top commitment: Davis Dudchock, TE, 6-4, 218, Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain.

Sleeper prospect: Kenneth Ladler, DB, 6-0, 187, Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson.

Other verbals (according to ESPNU/Scouts, Inc.): Bradley Roby, ATH, 6-0, 167, Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge; Jared Morse, DT, 6-2, 260, Oxford, Ala./Oxford; Vince Taylor, DT, 6-1, 265, Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove; Andre Simmons, DB, 6-0, 190, Lorton, Va./South County; Grant Ramsey, OT, 6-5, 270, Marietta, Ga./Alan C. Pope; Jerrell Priester, ATH, 5-9, 170, Fairfax, S.C./Allendale-Fairfax; Kyle Woestmann, DT, 6-3, 260, Marietta, Ga./Walton; James Kittredge, DT, 6-4, 260, Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco; Jonathan Krause, WR, 5-11, 164, Snellville, Ga./South Gwinnett; Andre Hal, CB, 5-11, 170, Port Allen, La./Port Allen; Logan Stewart, OG, 6-3, 270, Boiling Springs, S.C./Boiling Springs; Thomas Ryan, DE, 6-4, 225, Marathon, Fla./Marathon; Sharrod Golightly, S, 5-10, 172, Decatur, Ga./Southwest Dekalb; Chris Boyd, WR, 6-5, 187, Roswell, Ga./Roswell; Nash Nance, QB, 6-4, 205, Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun County; Trent Pruitt, WR, 5-10, 175, Fitzgerald, Ga./Fitzgerald; Chase White, OT, 6-4, 255, Plano, Texas/Plano West; Karl Butler, CB, 6-0, 185, New Orleans, La./Brother Martin; Myron Ross, RB, 6-1, 205, Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon.