Some thoughts while driving through Florida and Georgia and meeting with dozens of blue-chip prospects from the class of 2009:

* The story on the class of 2008 isn't complete until quarterback Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, Pa., makes his commitment. The top-rated player in the nation is taking his time. He attended a basketball game at Ohio State last weekend. In my view, he will choose Ohio State but he still hasn't made official visits to Penn State and Oregon and won't make a decision until he does.

* Quarterback Matt Barkley of Los Angeles is the No. 1 player in the junior class but Aaron Murray of Tampa, Fla., could rival him.

While we are waiting for Terrelle Pryor, the nation's top-rated player, to decide between Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon, let us address what has emerged as the biggest story in college football recruiting--de-commitments.

Five years ago, the word wasn't even in the dictionary. Last year, more than 100 players made early commitments to Division I schools, then changed their minds and signed with another school. This year, the figure skyrocketed to over 200. Nearly every Division I school was affected.

I wasn't a big fan of adopting an early signing period for football, as in basketball, but it has become obvious to me that college football needs an early signing period to police the coaches.

As the national signing day approaches, Notre Dame landed a top 200 player in 6-4, 240-pound defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore of Weatherford, Texas, who originally had committed to Texas A&M.

Lewis-Moore is Irish coach Charlie Weis' first recruit since wide receiver Deion Walker on Jan. 5 and only the second since lineman Trevor Robinson, a de-commitment from Nebraska, announced for Notre Dame on Dec. 14.

Lewis-Moore will help to deter the loss of defensive lineman Omar Hunter, who de-committed last month and declared for Florida.