The following is an overview of recruiting activity in the leading conferences in the country:

Atlantic Coast
North Carolina continues to make waves in ACC recruiting with 19 commitments. The Heels' latest pledge came on Tuesday from Culver, Ind., two-way lineman Jeb Terry. He made his official visit to Chapel Hill on Dec. 11 and picked UNC over Purdue, Virginia and Michigan. They hope to continue the momentum gained so far with a huge recruiting weekend slated for Jan. 8-10. North Carolina is expecting at least 14 recruits and could have as many as 20 players in. Three All-Americans -- running back Nick Maddox, athlete Mike Waddell and receiver Durrell Robinson -- will all be in Chapel Hill.

"Coach (Mike) O'Cain told me they are going to recruit only one more quarterback, if I decide to commit again to NC State," said Stone Mountain, Ga., quarterback Jatavis Sanders about his Tuesday in-home visit with the Wolfpack head coach. "N.C. State just seems to be working me harder right now, and I know that Notre Dame is going to go after several quarterbacks even if I commit."

If you recall, Sanders pledged to the Wolfpack back in November, but backed off the pledge when he visited Notre Dame on Dec. 4. Now it appears N.C. State is the team to beat again. "I'm going to take my time with the final choice," Sanders said. "I'm not going to rush into anything."

Big East
For the past month and a half, Tampa, Fla., cornerback Garnell Wilds has been going back and forth between Virginia Tech and Notre Dame as his top two teams. And it appears that the see-sawing is going to continue for at least another two weeks.

"Virginia Tech and Notre Dame are still my top two schools," Wilds said. "They have been for quite a while now. They are so close in so many ways."

Wilds, who visited Virginia Tech on Dec. 11 and goes to Notre Dame on Jan. 15, said it is so close that it might really come down to academics.

"I want to major in architectural engineering, and that is probably going to play a factor in my final decision" Wilds said. "I know that Virginia Tech has one of the best programs around."

Expect a decision any day from Fitchburg, Mass., All-America offensive lineman Keith Leavitt. The 6-8, 288-pound offensive tackle has reduced his list to two -- Boston College (Dec. 11) and Syracuse (Dec. 18) -- and said he is "rapidly approaching a final choice." Leavitt has turned down scholarship offers from Notre Dame and Penn State, among others.

Big 12
Until earlier this week, Oklahoma was the only team in the country without a known commitment. But that changed on Monday. Sooner fans need to put this one in their record books. Six-foot-five, 245-pound tight end Brian Jimmerson of Norman, Okla. became the first ever commitment for new Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. But Stoops didn't stop there. A day later, the Sooners snared Aldine, Texas, running back Quenton Griffin.

Colorado should be just about finished with recruiting after this weekend. The Buffs have about only four or five more spots open. Of course, Buff fans hope that a couple of those spots could be filled by Joe Weber (San Bernadino, Calif.), the top running back in Southern California, and Cory Redding (Houston), one of the nation's best linebackers. Both are making their official visits to Boulder this weekend.

Pac-10
"With the change in coaching staff at Washington, I've opened my options," explained tight end Kevin Ware of Klein, Texas, who committed to Washington back in September. "I don't know who they are going to hire, and if I'm going to fit in with the new system."

Ware, who will visit Colorado on Jan. 8 and Oklahoma on Jan. 15, isn't the only player that has pledged to the Huskies who is looking around. Caldwell, Idaho, quarterback Cody Pickett (6-4, 210) also has a sincere interest in Arizona State. The Sun Devils were the runners-up when Pickett originally picked the Huskies back on Oct. 12. Also, several Oregon State commitments might widen their options now that coach Mike Riley has left for the same position with the NFL's San Diego Chargers.

USC continues to turn in one of the Pac-10's most impressive recruiting classes. The solid addition of Santa Ana, Calif., offensive lineman Lenny Vandermade gives the Trojans sorely needed depth on both the offensive and defensive lines.

The Trojans already have a pledge from Bernard Riley, who is considered to be the top defensive lineman on the West Coast, and Long Beach Poly teammates Darrell Rideaux and Kareem Kelly could have an impact right away. Bryan, Texas, defensive lineman Ty Warren continues to say that he is favoring the Trojans. Warren, the top defensive lineman in Texas, still says that he is going to visit Tennessee on Jan. 15 and Texas A&M on Jan. 22 before making his decision final. Ironically, Trojan assistant Shawn Slocum is recruiting Warren. Slocum is the son of Aggie head coach R.C. Slocum.

SEC
How will Tennessee's national title affect recruiting? Well, just ask the recruits.

"I just loved every minute of it," said Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside defensive lineman Charles Roberson. "Something like that has to help a kid see that Tennessee is for real and will be for a long time."

Naples (Fla.) Barron Collier offensive lineman Anthony Herrera agrees. "You have to think that if they did it once, they can do it again," Herrera said. "And it's every player's dream to play for a national title and get that ring."

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Florida will each have their first full-blown recruiting weekends. The Bulldogs play host to running back Derek Watson (Williamston, S.C.) and record-setting quarterback J.R. House (Nitro, W.Va.) among others. Florida expects six visitors. Linebacker Saleem Rasheed (Birmingham, Ala.) tops that list. Auburn fans will see if the Tigers can continue to draw players from talent rich Prichard (Ala.) Blount High School this weekend, as Blount's two standouts, DeAndre Green and DeMarco McNeil, make their official visits to Tigerland.

This is the most important weekend of the year for Alabama's recruiting fortunes. The Tide will play host to blue-chip defensive backs Darryl Dixon (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) and Antonio "A.C." Carter (Tallahassee, Fla.) along with several other blue chip-caliber performers.

Big Ten
The Jan. 8 recruiting weekend could prove vital to Michigan and Ohio State. Both the Wolverines and Buckeyes have scheduled several important recruits for the weekend. Two of the blue-chippers expected in Ann Arbor are receiver Ronald Bellamy (New Orleans, La.) and defensive end Norman Boebert (Glendale, Ariz.). Receiver Reggie Brown (Carrollton, Ga.), lineman Vernon Carey (Miami, Fla.) and defensive end Darnell Dockett (Burtonsville, Md.) highlight the players visiting the Buckeyes.

Penn State has entered the C.J. Leak race. Granted, Penn State has a lot of ground to make up on the Charlotte (N.C.) Independence HS quarterback, but it is going to get a Jan. 15 official visit from the combo quarterback. That weekend is shaping up to be a big weekend for the Lions. Along with Leak, players who are scheduled to be visiting campus are Ettrick, Va., linebacker Matt Farrior; Arlington Heights, Ill., athlete Jarret Payton; and Lakewood, N.J., receiver Ryshaun Conover. Yes, Payton is the son of former Chicago Bear great and NFL all-time leading rusher Walter Payton.

Independents

At a press conference on Monday, Lamar High's Gerome Sapp (Houston, Tex.), the nation's top-ranked safety prospect, pledged to Notre Dame.

"There was some pressure for me to stay in state, and I really liked Texas. But I had to go with my heart. And my heart said Notre Dame," Sapp said of his decision.

While Sapp was the Irish's ninth pledge of the campaign, they didn't stop there. On Tuesday, Norcross, Ga. offensive lineman Sean Milligan opted for Notre Dame over Georgia, Michigan, UCLA and Florida.

Bobby Burton is editor-in-chief of The National Recruiting Advisor. To subscribe, dial toll-free 1-888-TNRA-NOW (seven issues for $59). For the latest on your favorite college, dial 1-900-933-7776. The cost is $1.59 per minute (must be 18 or have parents' permission).