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As the "undecideds" -- linebackers D.J. Williams and Amon Gordon and quarterback/defensive end Teyo Johnson -- were mulling their options, Miami was otherwise basking in a wealth of talent. The Hurricanes have five Top 100 recruits, including the best running back in Florida -- Willis McGahee.

Carlos Joseph was one of the best offensive linemen in the country, but likely will be tried on defense for the 'Canes. He made the Top 100, as did receiver Willie Dixon, defensive back Carl Walker and defensive lineman Alton Wright.

Plus, the Hurricanes signed tight end Willie Roberts, who rates with McGahee and Joseph among the best three prospects from Miami, all of which signed with Miami.

"All indications are that Miami is back," said PrepStar managing editor Rick Kimbrel said. "And in a big way, too."

So, then, is Syracuse, after taking a couple of steps backward on the field last season.

The Orange's class is far from its typical selection of recruits; they don't have any of the top three players from the state of New York, but snared key recruits from the West (California), the Midwest (Kansas) and Southeast (Kentucky) to supplement its top 25 class.

And, as that 6-5 regular season would suggest, Paul Pasqualoni had some immediate holes to fill, which explains the seven junior-college transfers -- more than he had recruited in all of his previous nine years at Syracuse.

The star is Johnnie Morant, a 6-5, 225-pound receiver from Parsippany Hills (N.J.) High.

That had to be one of the biggest surprise commitments in the country," Kimbrel said.

"This guy … he's like a fast Plaxico Burress," Kimbrel added, referring to the former Michigan State standout. "He's just so graceful and he's so big. He's right up there with the top five overall players I saw."

Another infusion of offense for the Orangemen comes with the addition of running back Walter Reyes, who was considered through early January to be a heavy lean to Indiana. Reyes, from Strothers, Ohio, will have backfield competition from Diamond Ferri, who turned down offers from Tennessee, Ohio State, Nebraska, Notre Dame and others.

Although Virginia Tech rarely makes a big splash in recruiting, Kimbrel said the Hokies were able to cash in on their unprecedented success and national exposure in 1999. It's just that they did it in typical Hokie fashion.

"They don't have a lot of 'names,' Kimbrel said, "but this year they have more names than ever before. It's just a bunch of good guys, who -- when the synergy kicks in -- are going to be a good football team, just like Virginia Tech always is."

The biggest "name" is Top 100 recruit Chad Cooper, a defensive back from Vienna, Va. Others include 6-foot-8, 310-pound John Dunn (the best offensive lineman in Virginia) and two players from Hyattsville, Md. -- tight end Jason Lallis and linebacker Mikal Baaqee.

Best of the JCs

Unsettled at quarterback last season, Syracuse brought in one of the best gunslingers in the West to shake things up even more. Chad Elliott, who played at Arizona State as a freshman, but left because he couldn't count on regular playing time behind Ryan Kealy, is enrolled at Syracuse and is ready to compete for the job in spring practice. So is R.J. Anderson, last year's hot quarterback recruit.

Virginia Tech, looking for replacements on the defensive line, hopes to have plugged a hole with the late commitment of tackle Channing Reed from Montgomery College in Rockville, Md.

Surprise, surprise

Dustin Picciotti, who is from Doylestown, Pa., and is the nation's top-rated fullback, had scholarship offers from Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State … yet, in what Kimbrel called the "biggest surprise" in the conference, Picciotti cast the Big Ten powers aside in favor of Pittsburgh. Picciotti's commitment likely cost the Panthers the first player in its recruiting class -- fullback Rick Razzano of Milford, Ohio. He de-committed in favor of Mississippi.

And Junior Palacios going to Pitt came out of the blue, inasmuch as Palacios wasn't even being recruited by the Panthers a week ago. But since other schools were scared off by Palacios' shaky academics, Pitt was able to swoop in and grab a quality player from Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei.

Tidbits

Minus the flash of last year's class, Boston College put together a solid, winning effort, Kimbrel said. "It was an excellent follow-up. One class is never going to do it for you." Boston College's headliner is tight end Dave Kashetta from Westport, Conn., rated the 15th-best player in the East. …

Not unlike Miami quarterback Kenny Kelly, Hurricane QB recruit T.J. Prunty from St. Paul, Minn., is also a hot baseball prospect. Prunty was 10-2 with 0.81 ERA last season. …

Jared Hostetler, the nephew of former NFL quarterback Jeff Hostetler is headed to West Virginia, which is where uncle Jeff played his college ball. Jared plays some quarterback, but could end up at safety.