Colleges

Caldwell, 2 others look at NFL Draft status

Junior linebacker Brandon Siler and defensive end Jarvis Moss also sent in paperwork.

By ANTONIA ENGLISH
Published December 19, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Junior receiver Andre Caldwell of Tampa is among at least three Florida players who have petitioned the NFL about their draft status. Junior linebacker Brandon Siler and defensive end Jarvis Moss also sent in paperwork.

"I sent my papers in about two weeks ago," Moss said. "They (coaches) encouraged it. They agreed it's probably a good idea just to see where I stand and where my status was as far as a future career."

When players petition the NFL, a group of league executives evaluate the individual and send a report to the school about their potential to be drafted, among other things.

Gators coach Urban Meyer declined to discuss specifics on Monday, saying it was an in-house matter. But he has said on several occasions that when the time is right, he will sit down with players to discuss their futures. He also has said he wouldn't try to stop a player from leaving if he's a potential first-round draft pick.

USF: DT commits

TAMPA - A strong December of recruiting continued as the Bulls picked up an oral commitment from Terrell McClain, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle from Pensacola High.

"I was going to wait for my official visit, but my coach told me to go ahead and make it official," said McClain, rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.

"I liked the environment, and Tampa's my hometown. It's a great opportunity."

McClain, who had 66 tackles and eight sacks as a senior, was also recruited by Alabama, Miami and Auburn.

HEALTHY RETURN: Senior linebacker Patrick St. Louis, who missed two weeks after spraining his ankle in the Nov. 25 upset of then-No. 7 West Virginia, was back at practice and is expected to start Saturday in the Papajohns.com Bowl against East Carolina.

EARLY ENTRY?: Saturday could be the final game for junior cornerback Mike Jenkins, who has submitted his name to the NFL board for underclassmen considering early entry in April's draft.

FSU: Back to 2-a-days

TALLAHASSEE - The Seminoles held their first two-a-day practice since August, with one more set for this week. In the morning, the team went 16 periods in pads. Meantime, Buster Davis and Lawrence Timmons were named honorable mention All-Americans by Pro Football Weekly.

Around the nation

ARKANSAS: The school added a year to coach Houston Nutt's contract and intends to give him a raise as reward for leading the Razorbacks to the SEC championship game. The extension keeps Nutt, 67-43 in nine seasons, is under contract until 2012. He earns a base salary of $329,644 and has a total compensation package of $1.05-million.

BOSTON COLLEGE: The school is preparing to hire Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski as coach, the Associated Press reported.

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL: The Miami Herald reported that the Golden Panthers will have a news conference today naming Miami offensive line coach Mario Cristobal as head coach. Cristobal, 36, would be the first Cuban-American head coach in I-A history,

MIAMI: Defensive end Calais Campbell was named MVP at the annual awards banquet. He tied for the ACC lead with 10 sacks and also had 20 tackles for loss.

STANFORD: Former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh was hired to take over the struggling program. Harbaugh had spent the past three seasons as coach at San Diego, a nonscholarship Division I-AA program. He led the Toreros to a 29-6 record, winning 27 of his final 29 games.

VIRGINIA TECH: The team will be without No. 2 quarterback Ike Whitaker when it faces Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Dec. 30. The university released a statement issued by Whitaker saying he was undergoing inpatient treatment for alcohol-related issues.

Information from Times staff writer Greg Auman and Times wires was used in this report.

[Last modified December 23, 2006, 11:12:31]