Georgia fans can only hope that the Bulldogs' football recruiting efforts down the stretch take a turn for the better by the time the last fax rolls in for today's signing day.
That's because on Monday defensive tackle target Jeff Whitaker from Warner Robins announced he would sign with Auburn; Frostproof (Fla.) cornerback commitment Nickell Robey eliminated Georgia from his list; and Lowndes linebacker Telvin Smith said he is sticking with his Florida State commitment.
Whitaker said Miami was his runner-up, ahead of Georgia.
Georgia remains a top contender for Stephenson defensive tackle Mike Thornton and a finalist with Florida State for receiver Christian Green from Tampa Catholic.
Georgia receiver commitment Da'Rick Rogers from Calhoun -- rated by Rivals and Scout.com as the state's top prospect -- will be most closely watched today. Georgia quarterback commitment Hutson Mason from Lassiter said Tuesday that a Bulldogs coach told him that Rogers had switched to the Volunteers.
BOISE STATE: The Broncos announced that they have moved their game this fall against Virginia Tech to Labor Day. The nationally televised showcase will match two teams that finished last season in the top 10 of The Associated Press Top 25.
The game will begin in primetime at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., home of the Washington Redskins. It had been scheduled for Oct. 2.
ALABAMA: Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will make $750,000, double his previous year's salary, after he helped the Crimson Tide win a national championship.
Smart won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach. He turned down a lucrative offer from Georgia coach Mark Richt to run the defense at his alma mater. Last year, Smart made $360,000 in salary plus $72,000 in bonuses.
EAST CAROLINA: Ruffin McNeill has added four assistants to his first coaching staff.
McNeill hired three of his former Texas Tech colleagues: offensive line coach Brandon Jones , running backs coach Clay McGuire and outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons .
Defensive tackles coach Marc Yellock joins the Pirates after four years at Elon.
Jones coached linemen at Sam Houston State last season after spending two years with McNeill on the Red Raiders' staff. McGuire had been on Texas Tech's staff since 2006, starting as an intern and rising to running backs coach. Simmons was receiver Michael Crabtree 's position coach in Lubbock.
Yellock played for the Pirates from 1997-2000 and was a defensive staff assistant in Greenville from 2004-05.
FURMAN: Coach Bobby Lamb has hired two new assistants for the Paladins.
Lamb said Brian Hill will coach the defensive line and Rusty Wright will coach the linebackers.
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