Jamar Hornsby (left) played at East Mississippi CC this season.

Former Florida Gator Jamar Hornsby made the most of his time at East Mississippi Community College.

Hornsby was dismissed from the Florida football on May 9, the same day he turned himself in to Gainesville Police for using the gas card belonging to Ashley Slonina, the former Lynn Haven resident and Florida student who was killed along with Gators’ walk-on Michael Guilford on Oct. 12, 2007.

Hornsby was named to the NJCAA football All-American second team as a defensive back. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Hornsby had 111 tackles this season including 64 solo.

East Mississippi won the north division of the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges Athletic Conference. Hornsby was named the Most Valuable Player of the MACJC defensive backs. Hornsby finished the season strong, recording double-digit tackles in five of the last seven games in 2008.

According to Rivals.com, Hornsby has verbally committed on Dec. 7 to play at Mississippi next season. He was also recruited by Oregon, Arkansas and Kentucky.

He is expected to be introduced Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Templeton Athletic Academic Center on the campus of Mississippi State. According to an e-mail sent by MSU’s athletic department, “The fan event will feature the new head coach, interim president Dr. Roy Ruby and director of athletics Greg Byrne, and will be followed by a press conference.”

Mullen and Byrne are then scheduled to travel around Mississippi, attending various Bulldog events.

It is unsure if Mullen, who has coached with Urban Meyer since 1999 at Notre Dame, would could Florida’s offense in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9, 2009.

Mullen has been widely recognized as the mastermind behind Meyer’s spread offense, tutoring the quarterbacks to fit their role. He coached Alex Smith at Utah and was part of Tim Tebow’s recruiting to and then grooming at Florida.

Sylvester Croom resigned as the Bulldogs coach on Nov. 29, ending his five-year rein as the Southeastern Conference’s first black head coach.

While the rumors swirled about Mullen interviewing with MSU. In the meantime, the Bulldogs reached out to South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said.

Early candidates to replace Mullen as offensive coordinator are assistant head coach and offensive line coach Steve Addazio, and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales.

All Times Central

Game to watch:
Alabama at LSU, 2:30 p.m., CBS - Although the Tigers aren’t in the hunt for the national title, Nick Saban’s return to Baton Rouge, La., may overshadow everything else about this game — including the Crimson Tide’s bid to keep their No. 1 ranking.

The rest:
Georgia at Kentucky, 11:30 p.m. CST, Raycom - The Bulldogs need to keep winning to not give up the East.

Arkansas at South Carolina, noon CST - Will Spurrier see a better game out of quarterback Stephen Garcia? Or will the Hogs keep getting better?

Wyoming at Tennessee, noon CST, PPV-Vol Network - The Vols need to win in the first game after Fulmer announced he’s leaving UT after this season.

Tennessee-Martin at Auburn, 1:30 p.m. - The Tigers need this win more than they think.

Florida at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m., ESPN2 - The Gators can use this game to prove why they’re national championship game worhty. While the Commodores can do what they did in 2006, the last time UF came to Nashville — almost win.

Florida and Penn State.

The Gators’ defense and special teams are just too strong. And now that Urban Meyer has finally figured out that by playing Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Percy Harvin and Brandon James together, it opens up the field for Tim Tebow to keep on running.

The Nittany Lions got by Ohio State in unimpressive fashion. But folks, remember, it’s the Big Ten. Games like this aren’t typically overwhelming. It’s defense, defense, defense, kind of like the old NFC Central, you know, the Black and Blue Division. Penn State will win out and win the Big Ten.

Here’s how they both get to the BCS: Florida defeat Georgia on Saturday and move into the Top 5 of the BCS. The Gators will win the SEC East and Alabama will win the SEC West. They’ll meet in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game and the Gators will win, knocking off the No. 2 team in the country.

Texas will lose in the Big 12 Championship Game and fall from the graces of No. 1. Penn State, now No. 3, will move up to No. 1 and Florida will end up No. 2.

Thus, the matchup for the national title.

Enjoy.

All Times Central.

Saturday, Oct. 4
Kentucky at Alabama, 2:30 p.m., CBS – The Wildcats defense may be one of the few that can stop the Tide.

Florida at Arkansas, 11:30 p.m., Raycom/ESPN Game Plan – Sorry, Razorbacks. The Gators are coming off a loss and may just put up 70 points.

Auburn at Vanderbilt, 5 p.m., ESPN – Game of the week by far. Vandy’s on a roll, ranked No. 19 and is playing at home. Upset alert is on.

South Carolina at Ole Miss, 1 p.m. – The Rebels are riding high after upsetting Florida. No surprise here if they beat the underachieving Gamecocks.

Northern Illinois at Tennessee, 6 p.m. PPV – This is the type of game Phillip Fulmer needs to get his Vols back on course.