Last week, it was announced that incoming freshman Jay Harris would not be joining Michigan State’s football program as planned.  It was first said that he intended to instead pursue a career in rap music.  And then it was reported that Michigan State  yanked his scholarship after seeing his new rap video — which features explicit lyrics and opened with video of Harris lighting up a joint.

Now the attention is being turned to top prospect Sony Michel from Plantation, Florida.  Ranked as the #2 running back in the nation by Rivals, Michel has already committed to Georgia but he, too, is an aspiring rapper.  So any chance he’ll put rap above football?  Not if what he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is true:

“Football is my first love, and then music is right after it.  I will finish out football before I think about that (a music career)…

Actually, I have a good friend who is a producer.  (My friend) makes beats.  I let him listen to my stuff.  He makes beats for professional artists.  He is actually trying to help me understand the business more before I jump into it.  I’m just learning right now before I get into it.”

Even better news for Bulldog fans?  No controversies over the raps he’s already posted on YouTube.com under the name 2Stackz.

1. Columbia, South Carolina defensive end Christian Miller has decommitted from Florida.  ”After a lot of hard thinking and discussions with my parents, I have respectfully decided to open my recruitment back up,” he posted on his Facebook page. He had previously mentioned Alabama, Florida State and Georgia as schools pursing him.  Florida now has eight commitments in its 2014 class.

2. Bossier City, Louisiana quarterback Robert Harris has a top seven - LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss and Baylor. He unveiled his list last night at his spring game.   LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and area recruiter and tight ends coach Steve Ensminger were on hand to watch him to perform. Harris says he’ll make a decision on July 18.

3. Opelika, Alabama tight end Jakell Mitchell has picked an offer from the Crimson Tide. He has also offers from  Auburn, LSU, Florida, Florida State, among others. Mitchel’s teammate, Stephen Roberts, committed to Alabama in April.

4. Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about recruiting in Georgia Thursday night.  ”It’s (Atlanta) the city in the South, and it’s three hours from Tuscaloosa. It’s important for us to do a good job here. There’s a lot of great (high school) programs and a lot of good players, so we’ve had a lot of good players from here. I think there’s five starters on our team from this area.”

5. Georgia has a rooting interest in the fate of five-star linebacking prospect Matthew Thomas.  He signed with Florida State in February but now says he wants to play at either Georgia or Southern Cal.

6. Florence, Alabama quarterback Kendrick Doss has offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.  Considered a duel threat quarterback, here’s how Doss’s high school coach described him:  ”Kendrick’s the type kid, like Cam Newton and a lot of other guys, that can develop into a pro-style quarterback. He’s big enough to stand in the pocket. He’s tall enough to see over offensive lines. I think this kid could very easily adapt to a pro-style offense.”

7. District of Columbia metro area linebacker/safety Kobie Walker committed to Kentucky earlier this week.  He’s hoping to open a regional pipeline to the Bluegrass state.  “You don’t see a lot of players come from the DMV and go to Kentucky, so hopefully this will start a new trend.  Walker had narrowed his list to Kentucky, Miami and West Virginia before choosing UK.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s recruitment has stayed the same since he committed to Clemson more than 15 months ago.

He continues to say he’s solid to the Tigers while more and more schools keep recruiting him.

The latest school is Alabama. The Crimson Tide offered Watson a scholarship last week, joining a list that includes Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon and Southern California.

Watson, who’s ranked the nation’s No. 1 quarterback by Rivals.com, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he’s used to all the attention from other schools.

“I can’t tell them to stop coming by here,” he said. “They can still come by and check out another player on my team but still watch me. You know, I can’t ever tell a school not to recruit me because it’s an honor and a privilege for them to throw me a full ride offer and (tell) me to come play at the school and get a free education.”

Watson, who attends Gainesville (Ga.) High School, has entertained the idea of visiting other schools. He told ESPN RecruitingNation last month that he would take all five official visits this fall but has since softened on the idea. Instead, he told the AJC he has a list of “fallback schools” in case the status of his commitment to Clemson changes.

“For me, it would be Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, USC and Oregon,” Watson said.

Georgia is intriguing. The home-state school has shown strong interest in Watson, who’s the only quarterback in the 2014 class to receive a scholarship offer from the Bulldogs.

“They have let it be known that I am their guy for 2014 and the only quarterback they plan to go after,” Watson told ESPN. “Mike Bobo and Mark Richt said they want a local guy to take over their offense and lead them to a national championship.”

Georgia will be looking for a new starting quarterback in 2014 after senior Aaron Murray departs. Alabama will be as well with AJ McCarron entering his senior year in Tuscaloosa.

Auburn has a group of quarterbacks set to return in 2014 but no one has set himself apart from the others. That opportunity for early playing time, which Clemson can also offer as Tajh Boyd enters his final year in college, will be the sales pitch from several schools recruiting Watson.

He can expect to hear more from those schools between now and the day he finally steps on a college campus. As Gainesville coach Bruce Miller told the AJC, “every school” is interested in Watson. And he doesn’t seem bothered by the attention.

“That’s going to keep on happening,” Watson said.

Leslie eligible for LSU

Wide receiver Quantavius Leslie received good news this week when he learned he will be eligible to play at LSU this fall, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

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SEC Football

1. Missouri now has nine commitments in its class of 2014 after Blue Valley West, Kansas offensive tackle Michael Fairchild and Nasvhille, TN cornerback  Finis Stribling verbally committed on Monday. Fairchild’s father played college ball at Kansas and professionally for the New England Patriots.  Stribling’s coach was impressed  by Missouri’s efforts at recruting in the Volunteer State. “I have noticed a more concerted recruiting effort inside the state lines. They’ve done probably the best of anybody in terms of getting information out and mailing it to kids.”

2. Alabama line coach Mario Cristobal is a big fan of big lineman.  California JUCO lineman Dominick Jackson is the latest in a string of offers to 300+ pound lineman.  He lists Alabama alongside UCLA as his two favorites.  ”I am a West Coast guy, but my dream has always been to play in the SEC.”

3. Auburn coach Gus Malzhan on the Tigers recruiting philosophy: ”It’s all going to start in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, but we’ll nationally recruit, and our guys are doing that.”

4. How is Auburn’s Dameyune Craig making an impact in the Mobile area? ”I don’t know what he does outside of football, but it can’t be much because he’s always recruiting.”

5. Auburn’s top five wide receiver recruiting targets for 2014.

6. 2013 LSU signee  Quantavius Leslie has reportedly gained his academic eligibility and will enroll in June, The JUCO wide receiver played at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss.

7. Former Penn State quarterback Steven Bench made an official visit to South Florida this week.  He’ll visit North Carolina State this weekend and Mississippi State next week.

SEC Basketball

8. No Andrew Wiggins for Kentucky, but the Cats recruiting class still considered the best in the country. 247 analyst Jerry Meyer: “It’s still kind of ridiculous, with six guys in the top 15,”

9. Memphis, Tennessee point guard Chris Chiozza is Florida’s first commitment in the class of 2014. ESPN recruiting analysti Dave Telep: “He’s a fearless player. Defensively, he’s a pest. He latches on to you. Offensively, he’s improved to where he’s a reliable scorer.” Chiozza chose Florida over Ohio State, Memphis, Ole Miss, Murray State and Butler.

1. Star basketball prospect Andrew Wiggins will announce his decision on Tuesday. Update: He chooses Kansas over Kentucky, Florida State and North Carolina.

2. Which team has the most to gain by landing Wiggins? Jeff Borzello examines.

3. Clemson quarterback commitment Deshaun Watson discusses his recent offer from Alabama.

4. Two Florida signees have already enrolled in classes to get an early start on summer workouts.

5. Florida continues to receive attention for its creative social media efforts in recruiting.

6. Tight end Jeb Blazevich discussed why he committed to Georgia’s 2014 class.

7. Kentucky scored a big recruiting win with the commitment from quarterback Drew Barker.

8. Clemson is battling several SEC schools and others for wide receiver Trey Quinn from Lake Charles, La.

How about an Andrew Wiggins highlight video?

Defensive end Justin Thornton says he’s going to play for Auburn. Thornton made the announcement just moments ago.  His decision had come down to three SEC schools – Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M. The Alabama lineman, who plays at Vigor High School, is rated a four-star prospect and is considered one of the top 10 defensive ends in the country.  It’s another feather in the cap for Gus Malzahn’s program – which has made a focus of recruiting kids from the Mobile area. He’s Auburn’s sixth commitment in the class of 2014,  which includes Thornton’s teammate -Deshaun Davis.

1. South Carolina loses out on highly-rated quarterback Drew Barker - what’s next for the Gamecocks?

2. Kyle Tucker on Barker committing to Kentucky: “A ton of credit goes to offensive coordinator Neal Brown…”

3. John Clay: Of all the positive moves (coach Mark) Stoops has made so far, locking the in-state gates ranks among the most impressive.

4. Defensive end Justin Thornton will announce his decision on Sunday.  Could be Auburn’s fourth player in the 2014 class from the Mobile area.

5. JUCO safety Derrick Moncrief has committed to Auburn.  He also had offers from Kentucky and Oklahoma State. Moncrief’s teammate -  D’haquille Williams – has committed to LSU. He’s the Tiger’s 10th commitment in the class of 2014.

6. Texas A&M has offered Plaquemine (La) defensive end Davon Godchaux. “I know Florida and A&M would be in my top three. USC, Florida State and Ole Miss are schools I like, as well. Everybody wants me to go to Alabama or LSU but I have to make a decision for my own self. I’m really liking Texas A&M right now”

7. Tennessee has a verbal commitment from 2015 offensive line in-state prospect Jack Jones.

Four-star 2014 prospect Drew Barker says he’ll play his college football at  Kentucky.  Barker, a quarterback from Hebron, Kentucky, made the announcement just moments ago. Barker’s decision came down to Kentucky or South Carolina, with Tennessee also in the mix (those three hats were on the table) and even some whispers about Ohio State.  Regardless, Barker says he’s headed to Lexington and that’s good news for coach Mark Stoops.

Kentucky had made Barker its No. 1 priority since Stoops was hired as coach.  He’s considered a top contender for Mr. Football in Kentucky next season.

Auburn needed to land a commitment from someone like Tre Williams.

The nation’s No. 2 outside linebacker according to Rivals announced his commitment to the Tigers on Wednesday. He chose Auburn over Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss.

Auburn has been looking for a player like Williams to help breathe some life into the Tigers’ 2014 class. He’s the first high-profile pledge in the class, which currently has five commitments.

He also gives Auburn a nice win in Mobile, Ala., a city that is critical in recruiting for both Auburn and rival Alabama. Credit for landing Williams goes to Auburn co-offensive coordinator Dameyune Craig, a Mobile native who played quarterback at Auburn from 1994-97.

“My family knows Coach Craig well, I’ve known since day one I’d be playing for him,” Williams told Rivals. “He tells me everything, he tells it how it is from bad to good. The good outweighed the bad and he’s real. Ever since I told my family I was going to commit, they are thrilled with Auburn.”

And Auburn’s coaches will be thrilled to sell Williams’ commitment to other recruits.

The SEC has reached a level of competition in recruiting we’ve never seen before. Eleven of the top 26 classes in the country for 2014 are in the SEC. Auburn is ranked No. 22, which is good for eighth best in the conference.

The Tigers will need to land more players like Williams if it wants to stay competitive in the SEC. There’s reason for Auburn fans to hope that will happen.

Auburn landed several highly-touted prospects late in the 2013 recruiting class, including defensive tackles Montravius Adams and Ben Bradley and defensive end Elijah Daniel.

But Auburn will have to focus on keeping the commitment of Williams, who will continue to hear from other schools, including Alabama.

Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News recently compared Williams to a highly-touted 2012 prospect from Mobile, running back T.J. Yeldon.

Yeldon, who was ranked the nation’s No. 2 running back by Rivals, committed to Auburn early in the recruiting process. As Mr. Scarbinsky writes, there was plenty of excitement in Auburn when the Tigers landed Yeldon’s commitment.

“Williams might be the biggest name from the Mobile area to commit to Auburn since Yeldon. How did that turn out?

Yeldon was every bit as good as advertised, running for 1,108 yards as a true freshman. The trouble for Auburn was, he did it for Alabama after switching his commitment late in the fall of 2011 and then starting classes there in January of 2012.”

Auburn will work to make sure Williams doesn’t make the same switch. And he will surely hear from people telling him Alabama is a better choice than Auburn, especially if Alabama has another successful season in 2013.

Linebacker Reuben Foster and defensive end Dee Liner heard the same thing during last year’s recruiting season. They both switched their commitments from Auburn and signed with Alabama.

This doesn’t mean Williams will do the same. Craig’s presence will help, and the fact Williams has two friends – offensive lineman Joshua Casher and linebacker Deshaun Davis – already committed to Auburn should be an advantage for the Tigers.

Auburn will do everything it has to do to make sure Williams stays committed and signs with the Tigers. He’s that important.

Wiggins Watch continues

The nation’s top basketball prospect is still undecided.

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1. Alabama offered 8th grader Dylan Moses a scholarship back in February.  He now has offers from eight schools, half of them in the SEC - LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, Florida State, UCLA, Nebraska and Texas.

2. So why did linebacker Tre Williams commit to Auburn over Alabama?  ”I went to Auburn because that’s a whole family from the coaches to the fans to the players.” Williams says linebacker depth at Alabama was not a factor.  He says he was told he would inside linebacker at Auburn, but that could change.

3. Alabama’s quarterback wish list. Crimson Tide’s top five recruiting targets.

4. Missouri has added a lineman from the Kansas City area to its 2014 class.  Lee’s Summit West lineman Kevin Pendleton committed to the Tigers Wednesday night.  Pendleton’s coach is Royce Boehm, father of current Tiger lineman Evan Boehm. Pendleton is Missouri’s seventh 2014 commitment.

5. The nephew of former Georgia great Herschel Walker has committed to Clemson.  Milan Richard, from Savannah, Georgia, picked the Tigers over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.

6. Wide receiver Demarre Kitt was once a Georgia commit but re-opened his recruiting process and now has a new top three.  The Sandy Creek (GA) prospect will decide among Clemson, Tennessee and Ohio State.

7. According to Arkansas commitment  Rafe Peavey, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer liked what he saw from the Bolivar, Missouri quarterback last week. “Sometimes I didn’t think even think he was watching. I would throw and I would hear ‘nice ball’.”

8. Louisiana quarterback Brandon Harris has added an offer from LSU to an ever-growing list.  ”It was a little frustrating to not have it at one point to be honest. Now I have it and it feels good. In the end, Coach Cameron knows what he wants in a QB and he felt comfortable with offering me a scholarship to play quarterback at LSU.” Other SEC schools interested in the Bossier City quarterback include Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.