Major roundup. The Statesman says Major and his wife fly in to Austin today and that a source "close to Applewhite" says the deal is all but done. They further report that Major, on salary for $250,000 annually at Alabama, has a $50,000 buyout clause in his contract which Texas would owe Alabama.

Elsewhere, Chip Brown says Applewhite's potential role on the staff remains unclear; the current vacancy is for Running Backs Coach, the position vacated by Ken Rucker's reassignment.

Eastward in Alabama, the Birmingham News talked with Tide recruit Damion Square, a defensive tackle from Houston, who said:

(Hat Tip: RBR)

Not to get in a pissing contest with Bama fans, but... huh?

Akina to stay. ESPN is reporting that Hawaii is expected to promote defensive coordinator Greg McMackin to head coach, ending speculation that Texas secondary coach Duane Akina might fill the position left by June Jones. As for Mack Brown's decision to hire Will Muschamp to replace him as DC, Brown said Akina was fully on board and is the "ultimate staff guy."

Signing day nears. As noted by BMG in the Diaries, Texas will have two additional scholarships to offer due to the departures of Jamaal Charles and Jermichael Finley to the NFL. We'll have a full recruiting board up sometime later this week.

No more Lofton. Junior linebacker Curtis Lofton will pass on a senior season at OU to join the NFL, the Tulsa World reports. The Sooner middle linebacker made a ridiculous 157 tackles during the 2007 season, the sixth-highest total in school history. Lofton was a consensus first-team All-American.

Elsewhere, C&CM reports that Reggie Smith is expected to declare today as well, though no source or link is provided. As loaded as Oklahoma could have been in 2008, these are both welcome developments. Oklahoma returns most every other starter from this year's Big 12 championship-winning team.

--PB--