Florida State is at the center of the coaching carousel -- just as it is in the national title hunt. The 'Nole stirring everything up is Mark Richt. The FSU OC met with Virginia athletic director Terry Holland last week and the school president over the weekend and made a good impression. A source says he is the frontrunner there, but also is keeping his options open at Georgia.

Other names to watch for at UVa are Ohio State assistant Jon Tenuta, Oklahoma assistant Mike Stoops and Purdue OC Jim Chaney. Michigan assistant head coach Fred Jackson and Georgia Southern head coach Paul Johnson are also in the running. I've heard that Jets coach Al Groh also may have some interest in the Cavs job.

On the recruiting scene, a name to remember is Andreal Curry, a scary talent from Milford (Conn.) Academy. The 6-2, 250-pound FB has added 25 pounds of muscle since he committed to Central Florida last winter. "I think he'll start there right away and dominate," says Milford coach Bill Chaplick. "He just kills people. He runs a 4.45 and he blocks like a pulling guard."

Curry ran for 1,137 yards this season and is expected to be used some in a one-back set at UCF. He turned down Alabama, Auburn, Boston College and just about everyone else to stick with UCF. He grew up just 20 minutes from the UCF campus in Orlando. Incidentally, the Knights also could pull off a pair of coups on Wednesday's signing day for JC players. Doug Gabriel, a 6-1, 210-pounder from Orlando, is looking at FSU and UCF. The 'Noles want him as a DB and he wants to play offense, so don't rule out the Knights. UCF's other big move could be on Anton Page, a 6-5, 205-pound WR, who had verballed to Texas Tech, but he is reportedly leaning towards returning to Florida and likes Mike Kurczek's system.

Curry was the valedictorian of a stellar football class at Milford. The best known prospect at the prep school in southern Connecticut is mammoth DT Mac Tyler, a 6-6, 350-pound former all-everything prep. Tyler, who averaged almost two sacks per game, stuck by his pledge to Alabama and could make an instant impact for the Tide...if he drops about 40 lbs. "If not," says Chaplick, a former Boston College O-lineman, "he'll be switching to O-line."

Other Milford prospects who could be impact newcomers next fall are CB Javar Williams and S Milton Sears (both bound for Temple), TE Ryan Caputo (a Vandy signee) and rapidly improving OT Stefphon Wheeler, a 6-6, 340-pound OT who is headed to Michigan State. Wheeler, who locked up against Tyler every day in practice, has great feet and has really blossomed since reporting to Milford at 390.

Recruiter's Rant

The most underrated defensive player in Florida is Carol City OLB Willie Jones, a guy who might end up at BC. The 6-2, 199-pounder, one RC says, plays much faster than a 4.5. "He looks like a 4.3 guy and he has great instincts." Jones, the son of former Oakland Raider Willie Jones, recorded an astounding 37 sacks this season.

Craphonso Thorpe, a 6-2, 180-pounder from Tallahassee headed to FSU, is the top WR in Florida -- not Charles Frederick (who committed to Washington). "[Thorpe's] rangy and explosive and really strong," says the RC I spoke with. He reminds me a lot of Tamarick Vanover."

Another FSU recruit, Chauncey Davis, was the player the RC labeled as most overrated in Florida. "He's good, not great and not 6-2, more like 6-feet," says the coach. "He's no DE, maybe they'll make him a linebacker. They need them. Or maybe they make him a fullback."

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