One of the nation's top linebacker prospects, Wesley Jefferson of Brandywine-Gwynn Park, Md., has chosen Maryland over Miami-Florida and Ohio State, among 50 other offers. The Terps have also gained defensive lineman Omar Savage of Piscataway, NJ., over Rutgers and Duke.

Two Top 150 prospects, defensive back Demetrice (Dee) Webb of Jacksonville-Ed White, Fla., and receiver Chad Jackson of Hoover, Ala., have pledged to the Florida Gators. Webb picked the Gators over Miami-Florida and Florida State, among many others. He had eight interceptions and eight defensive touchdowns as a senior. Jackson, a soft verbal, also considered Auburn, Georgia and Alabama. Florida recently gained offensive lineman Steven Rissler of Sarasota-Riverview, Fla., over South Florida.

Defensive lineman/linebacker Dwight Stephenson Jr. of Boca Raton, Fla., has confirmed a pledge to Notre Dame after decommitting from Florida. He is the son of NFL Hall of Fame member Dwight Stephenson Sr., who was a center for the Miami Dolphins and played at Alabama. Top 150 offensive lineman John Sullivan of Greenwich, Conn., has not confirmed a widely-publicized commitment to the Irish over Boston College and expects to make an announcement within a few days.

Super Prospect quarterback Drew Tate of Baytown-Lee, Tex., committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes. Tate, who decommitted from Texas A&M following the coaching change, also considered Houston, Baylor, Syracuse and Hawaii. During his four-year varsity career, he completed 970 of 1,576 attempts for 12,183 yards and 113 touchdowns. The Hawkeyes recently pledged receivers James Townsend of Delran-Holy Cross, NJ., over South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia; and Tyler Fanucchi of Claremont, Cal., over Boise State.

Top 150 defensive lineman Doug Langenfeld of Moks Corner-Berkeley, SC/Reedley CC, Cal., committed to Auburn over Nebraska, Tennessee, Oregon and South Carolina. The Tigers recently gained defensive back Patrick Lee of Miami-Columbus, Fla., over Florida, Georgia, North Carolina State and Rutgers; and tight end Kenny Williams of Hialeah-American, Fla., over Rutgers, Missouri, Mississippi and Central Florida.

The early football signing period for mid-year qualifiers was 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 (Updated daily).

Independents:
South Florida pledged defensive back A.J. Brant of Daytona Beach-Mainland, Fla; over interest from Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina State, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and Duke; defensive lineman Trenaine Sills of Miami-Northwestern, Fla; and defensive lineman Marcus Hubbard of Sanford-Seminole, Fla.

Big Ten:
Receiver/tight end Kyle Ingraham, a 6-9 prospect from San Antonio-Clark, Tex., is headed to Purdue over Wisconsin, Arizona, TCU and Mississippi State. The Boilermakers recently gained defensive lineman Jamaal Jones of Oradell-Bergen Catholic NJ., over Rutgers.

Michigan State pledged offensive lineman Joe Toth of Port Charlotte, Fla.

Minnesota pledged running back Justin Valentine of Columbus-Eastmoor, Ohio, over Boston College; and receiver Ernie Wheelwright of Columbua-Walnut Ridge, Ohio, over Indiana. The Gophers recently gained defensive back Byron Williams of Dallas-Hutchins, Tex/Ranger CC, Tex; linebacker John Shevlin of Apple Valley-Eastview, Minn., over an offer from Northwestern; and kicker/punter Rhys Lloyd of Rochester Community & Technical College, Minn.

Linebacker Jake Powers of Danville, Ind., decommitted from Toledo to Indiana. Offensive lineman Corey Hilliard of New Orleans-Jesuit, La., decommitted from the Hoosiers for Oklahoma State.

Big 12:
Tight end J.B. Phillips of Colleyville-Heritage, Tex., chose Nebraska over Kansas State and Oklahoma State. The Huskers recently added Super Prospect linebacker Lance Broadus of Woodland Hills-Taft, Cal., over Arizona, Oklahoma, Oregon and San Diego State.

Defensive lineman/offensive lineman Matt Scherbring of Oelwein, Iowa, has committed to Iowa State. The Cyclones recently gained defensive lineman/tight end Nick Davidson of Hurst-Bell, Tex., over Kansas.

Oklahoma State pledged offensive lineman Corey Hilliard of New Orleans-Jesuit, La., who decommitted from Indiana; defensive lineman Phil Friess of Conway Springs, Kan; tight end Omar McKenzie of Sugar Land-Dulles, Tex., over Arkansas; and defensive lineman Maurice Cummings of Rosebud-Lott, Tex.

Big East:
Offensive lineman Devin Kirkland of Aliquippa, Pa., has given a verbal to West Virginia over Maryland, Bowling Green and UConn. Also headed for the Mountaineers is offensive lineman Zach Napier of Ellisville-South Jones, Miss.

Rutgers gained quarterback Terrance Shawell of Pottstown, Pa., over West Virgnia and UConn; receiver Donnie Diaz of Itasca CC, Minn; receiver Willie Foster of Miami-Central, Fla; and linebacker/running back Devraun Thompson of Piscataway-Township, NJ. The Scarlet Knights recently gained linebacker Quintero Frierson of Coral Gables, Fla., over Auburn, Kentucky, South Florida and Central Florida.

ACC:
Clemson has a committment from defensive lineman Anthony McDaniel of Columbia-Keenan, SC., over Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. The Tigers recently gained Top 150 junior college defensive back Brian Staley of Aiken, SC/Georgia Military, Ga., and linebacker Nick Watkins of New Orleans-Karr, La. Staley also considered Florida, Nebraska and South Carolina.

Offensive lineman Shelton Bynum of Ellenwood-Cedar Grove, Ga., picked North Carolina over Auburn, Maryland and South Carolina. Also headed for the Heels are offensive/defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell of Virginia Beach-First Colonial, Va; defensive lineman Kenny Price of Virginia Beach-Kempsville, Va; and offensive lineman Charlston Gray of Fort Worth-Dunbar, Tex.,

SEC:
Mississippi pledged defensive back/receiver Kareem Moore of Okolona, Miss., over Mississippi State and Nebraska.

Defensive lineman Zarnell Fitch of Oklahoma City-Spencer, Okla/Navarro CC, Tex., picked Arkansas over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Mississippi State has a verbal from defensive lineman Drew Powell of Clewiston, Fla., over Colorado State, Iowa State and Central Florida.

Vanderbilt pledged receiver George Smith of Hollywood-Hollywood Hills, Fla.

Conf-USA:
Tulane pledged defensive back Carlis Jackson of Slidell-Salmen, La.

UAB pledged quarterback Jake Tompkins of Russellville, Ala.

MAC:
Tight end/defensive lineman Mike Merritt of Riviera Beach-Suncoast, Fla., picked Central Florida.

Bowling Green signed defensive lineman Devon Parks of Libertyville, Ill.

WAC:
Hawaii pledged offensive lineman Rambo Fui of American Samoa-Faga'itua; defensive lineman Quin Ah You of Kahuka, Hawaii; and linebacker Lincoln Manutai of Kahuka, Hawaii/San Bernardino Valley CC, Cal. Hawaii recently gained receiver Jason Rivers of Honolulu-St. Louis, Hawaii, over interest from Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Arizona State.

Rice pledged quarterback Joel Armstrong of Longview, Tex., over TCU and SMU; and defensive back/receiver Justin Abt of San Antonio-Clark, Tex.

Mountain West:
BYU gained offensive lineman R.J. Willing of Honolulu-Kamehameha, Hawaii. The Cougars recently added defensive back Viliami Nauahi of Kahuku, Hawaii.

New Mexico has a verbal from running back Darrius Ferguson of Paris, Tex.

Pac-10:
The Arizona Wildcats pledged defensive lineman Jason Parker of San Diego-Mission Bay, Cal., and defensive back Ryan Patterson of Desert Vista, Ariz/Pima CC, Ariz., over Michigan.

Two decommitments are headed for Arizona State, including offensive lineman Robert Gustavis of Torrance-North Torrance, Cal., over Arizona; and receiver/defensive back Rudy Burgess of Edwards-Desert, Cal., over Washington State. ASU recently gained defensive back Darnell Henderson of Oakland-McClymonds, Cal.

Defensive lineman Josh Tauanu'u of Long Beach-Poly, Cal., picked Oregon over Arizona, California and USC. The Ducks also added defensive back Rodney Woods of Fresno CC, Cal., who decommitted from California.

The Oregon State Beavers pledged defensive back/receiver Anthony Wheat of Compton-Dominguez, Cal., over Arizona, Illinois and Michigan 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.