Uncommitted players attracting heavy interest

Over the last couple of weeks a few players from this year's bowl game have committed to BCS programs or switched from a non BCS to a BCS program.

The first is linebacker T.J. Neal from McKeesport, Pennsylvania who committed to Illinois on January 13th. Neal held offers from Auburn, Florida, Nebraska, NC State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas Tech, USC, West Virginia, Central Florida, and many others.

Los Angeles, CA wide receiver Gabriel Marks had a remarkable week in the O-D Bowl and vaulted up Rivals.com to the 87th-best player in the country just after he decommitted from SMU. Marks held offers from Boston College, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Utah, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and many others but ultimately picked Washington State on January 15th after his visit on the 13th.

Rivals.com 3-star tackle Caleb Peterson, of Auburn, AL, recently switched his commitment from Southern Mississippi to North Carolina on January 19th after a visit to the Tarheels on the 13th. Peterson held offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Stanford, Mississippi State, Stanford, and many more.

"It's a testament to the players we had in this year's game that BCS programs are trying to sway those committed to non BCS programs, "said Offense-Defense Director of Player Personnel Josh Buchanan, "While we encourage players to hold to their commitments it's impressive to see the interest our uncommitted players are receiving."

As of this release only Keith Byars, Quinshad Davis, and Spencer McInnis are uncommitted.

Byars, a three-star prospect by Rivals.com from Boca Raton, FL, has offers from, among others, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, and Western Michigan.

Davis, a four-star prospect, vaulted up to the 223rd-best prospect in the country by Rivals.com after the bowl and currently holds offers from Clemson, Illinois, Tennessee, Wake Forest, NC State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and North Carolina.

McInnis is holding interest from Navy, Nebraska, and several MAC schools.