LSU has a pledge from Top 150 defensive lineman Sean Merrill of D'Iberville, Miss., over Auburn and Mississippi. The Tigers recently added Super Prospect running back Shawn Jordan of El Paso-Riverside, Tex., over Oklahoma State, UCLA and Arizona State.

Virginia has a commitment from Top 150 defensive back Phillip Brown of Hampton-Phoebus, Va., over Virginia Tech, Maryland, Clemson and North Carolina State, among many others.

Top 150 linebacker Robert Killebrew of Klein, Tex., and Super Prospect receiver Tyrell Gatewood of Tyler-Chapel Hill, Tex., picked Texas. Killebrew chose the Horns over Florida and also considered Oklahoma and UCLA. Gatewood was also recruited by Texas A&M and Oklahoma, among others.

Top 150 tight end Greg Olsen of Wayne-Wayne Hills, NJ., is expected to announce on Thursday (Jan 16) between Miami-Florida, Notre Dame and Tennessee. His brother, Chris, is a quarterback for the Irish.

Sam Baker, a Top 150 offensive lineman from Tustin, Cal., is near a decision between USC (expected), Florida, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington and UCLA.

Top 150 linebacker Wesley Jefferson of Brandywine-Gwynn Park, Md., denies newspaper reports of a commitment to Maryland. He is expected to announce on Wednesday (Jan 22) between Maryland (expected) Miami-Florida and Ohio State.

The early football signing period for mid-year qualifiers is Dec. 18-Jan 15. The spring period is Feb. 5-Apr. 1. Search the list of Prospects/Commitments/Signings/By Conference.

Oklahoma, Texas, LSU, USC, Georgia, Michigan, Miami-Florida, South Carolina, Notre Dame and Florida head the Early Top Classes.

More Football News:

Big Ten:
Defensive back Todd Barnard of Indianapolis-Ben Davis, Ind., committed to Indiana. Defensive lineman Malcolm Wooldridge of Boca Raton, Fla/Hargrave MA, Va/USC/Harper CC, Ill., denies reports of a verbal to the Hoosiers.

Big 12:
Tight end/defensive lineman Xzavie Jackson of Vacaville-Wood, Cal/Wichita-Wichita Heights, Kan., committed to Missouri. Class 2004 junior linebacker Van Alexander of Columbia-Rock Bridge, Mo., recently chose the Tigers.

Redshirt sophomore running back Marcus Houston of Denver-Thomas Jefferson, Colo., has been released from scholarship by Colorado at his request. Hampered by injuries for three seasons, he is considering Colorado State.

Big East:
Quarterback Paul Peterson of Snow CC, Utah, pledged to Boston College over interest from California, Indiana, Kansas, Utah and Utah State. He passed for 2982 yards and 35 touchdowns last season.

MAC:
Marshall has a commitment from receiver Hiram Moore of Huntington, WVa., over Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and LSU.

Central Florida has defensive lineman Josh Stephens of Port Arthur, Tex/Trinity Valley CC, Tex. UCF recently added running back Evandall Williams of Havana-Northside, Fla., and receiver Brooks Turner of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Sun Belt:
Arkansas State pledged quarterback Cliff Davis of Eurpora, Miss., over Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State.

WAC:
SMU gained defensive lineman Brandon Bonds of Cooper, Tex; receiver Reynaldo Pellerin of Spring-Westfield, Tex; linebacker Avery Cleveland of Austin-LBJ, Tex., over Colorado; and defensive back Joe Sturdivant of Lilburn-Parkview, Ga., over Navy and Georgia Tech.

Boise State has offensive linemen Jess Hacker of Dixie CC, Utah, and Tad Miller of Boise-Bishop Kelly, Idaho. The Broncos recently gained running back Dallas Bernstine of Vallejo-Bethel, Cal.

Mountain West:
Utah has commitments from receiver/defensive back Kyle Brady of Tooele, Utah, and defensive back Ryan Smith of LaPuente-Bishop Amat, Cal.

Pac-10:
Defensive lineman Bruce Davis of League City-Clear Creek, Tex., is now headed to UCLA. He earlier decommitted from Texas, the Bruins and Arkansas. UCLA recently gained defensive lineman/linebacker Aaron Whittington of St. Louis-Hazelwood East, Mo.

Stanford added defensive lineman Mike Macellari of South Bend-Clay, Ind., over Purdue. The Cardinal recently gained tight end Chris Horn of Dayton-Tongue River, Wyo., over California and Northwestern; plus offensive linemen Whitfield Usher of Los Angeles-Jefferson, Cal; and Amir Malayery of Suwanee-Collins Hill, Ga.

Linebacker Ramond White of Henderson-Green Valley, Nev., picked Oregon. Tight end Eddie Whitaker of Reseda, Cal/Los Angeles Valley CC, Cal., recently chose the Ducks over interest from Nebraska and Maryland.

Top 150 defensive lineman Junior Lemau'u of Long Beach-Poly, Cal., picked California over UCLA, Arizona State, Nebraska, Oregon and USC. Also headed for the Bears are tight end Craig Stevens of Rolling Hills-Peninsula, Cal., and receiver Noah Smith of Woodland Hills-Taft, Cal.

Defensive/offensive lineman Curtis Coker of Las Vegas-Desert Pines, Nev., committed to Oregon State.

Class 2003:
*Seach the list of Prospects/Commitments/By Conference.
*Post-Summer list of Top 150 Prospects/Commitments .

*Top 150 Prospects by Position: QB/RB/WR/TE/OL/DL/LB/DB.
*More players projected to make an impact: Super Prospects.

*Check out the Early Top 150 JC Prospects.
*Top 150 JC Prospects by Position: QB/RB/WR/TE/OL/DL/LB/DB.

*Check out the Early Top Classes.
*Football Signing Periods: Early: (midyear JC transfers) Dec. 18-Jan 15; Regular: Feb. 5-Apr. 1.

N.D./Big Ten Verbals: ND, Ill, Ind, Iowa, Mich, Mich St, Minn, NW, Ohio St, Penn St, Purdue, Wis.

Big 12 Verbals: Baylor, Colo, Iowa St, Kan, Kan St, Mo, Neb, Okla, Okla St, Tex, Tex A&M, Tex Tech.

SEC Verbals: Ala, Ark, Aub, Fla, Ga, Kty, LSU, Miss, Miss St, SoCarol, Tenn, Van.

ACC Verbals: FSU, NC State, Md, GT, Clemson, Va, NC, WF, Duke.

Big East Verbals: Miami, VT, BC, Syr, Pitt, WVa, Temple, Rutgers.

Pac-10 Verbals: Arizona, ASU, Cal, Oregon, Ore State, Stan, USC, UCLA, Wash, Wash State.

Football Commitments/Signings:
OCSN: Main Recruiting Page.

Class 2004: Database.
Class 2003: Database/Top Prospects/Conference.
Class 2002: Database/Top Prospects/Conference/Top Classes.
Class 2001: Database/Top Prospects/Conference/Top Classes.
Class 2000: Database/Top Prospects/Top Classes.
Class 1999: Database/Top Prospects/Top Classes.
Class 1998: Database.
Class 1997: Database.

Bill Hodge is the executive editor and director of recruiting coverage at CollegeSports.com. For daily columns on prospects, commitments and signings, plus databases, go to CollegeSports.com's Recruiting Page.