The Magazine's Bruce Feldman checks in with some newsy comings-and-goings, from Tennessee to LSU to Southern Miss to UK.

C.J. Leak sees himself as another Tee Martin. In other words, the 6-4, 225-pound QB thinks he can lead Tennessee to a national title. But after sitting out next season as penalty for transferring from Wake Forest, overtaking current Vols QB Casey Clausen might not be so easy.

No problem, says Leak. He thinks his 4.5 speed and fearless style could make him a big-time presence as a safety. "It's really up to them," says the son of former NFL WR Curtis Leak. "But for now, I'm going there as a quarterback."

Leak, who started Wake's first three games before dislocating his knee, will finish up the semester and then report for summer school in Knoxville. "I feel like Coach (Phil) Fulmer really cares about my future," says Leak.

Fulmer also cares about the future of C.J.'s brother Chris, who just happens to be the top prep passer in the south. The 6-1, 200-pound soph from Charlotte's Independence HS already owns most of North Carolina's QB records and has drawn interest from every powerhouse in the country. "Hopefully, Chris will join me there too," Leak says.

Fulmer's sentiments exactly.

Quick Slants

· Nick Saban is obviously a great recruiter, but he is having a heckuva time keeping coaches. Another Saban assistant, LB and special teams coach Sal Sunseri, has resigned. Sunseri becomes the fourth assistant (and third defensive assistant) to leave since LSU won the Peach Bowl on Dec. 29. "Not all of those guys left for family reasons," says one defensive position coach based in the Northeast. "His rep is that he's a huge pain to work for. He won't let his defensive coaches coach, and he can be pretty nasty."

The coach concluded thusly: "I'd love to go home and coach in the SEC and work with the talent they have there, but not for that guy."

· Look for Southern Mississippi DC Dave Wommack, one of the game's hottest young assistants, to join Arkansas' coaching staff. A blitzing whiz in the mold of Joe Lee Dunn, Wommack will coach DBs for the Hogs and assist UA DC John Thompson. Under Wommack, USM has ranked among the top 10 in D1 total defense and points allowed in each of the last two years. And in case you're wondering, Wommack is leaving a higher-ranking job because his salary will jump almost 50 percent and he will be the frontrunner to take over for Thompson if he leaves for another job after next season.

· Because of the all the chaos surrounding Kentucky football, strong-armed thrower Gino Guidugli, who previously committed to UK, is still on the market. Word out of the Bluegrass State is that the 6-5, 210-pound QB is getting a long look from Notre Dame, even though the Irish signed three QBs last season. Guidugli, who also is checking out Illinois, is the top passer left unsigned.

· Expect new Miami DC Randy Shannon, UM's once-and-again LB coach, to get a welcome-back present this spring. FB D.J. Williams has requested a move back to linebacker, something Cane coaches had been hoping for. The 6-2, 235-pound rising soph wanted a crack at TB, but Miami is already overrun with runners. In fact, a soph who was overshadowed by Williams in last year's recruiting class might emerge as the team's money back -- redshirt freshman Willis McGahee. "Everybody better look out, because he is really gonna be something," predicts Butkus winner Dan Morgan, who faced the 6-1, 218-pounder every day in practice. "He reminds me so much of Edgerrin [James], it's scary. He runs just like him and his hands are that good too."

Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.