By Andy Staples, SI.com

Still a 'Nole

Despite all the recent turmoil in Tallahassee, Virginia Beach (Va.) Bayside quarterback E.J. Manuel remains firmly committed to Florida State. Manuel said Saturday that despite the academic scandal that could force dozens of his future teammates to miss the first three games of next season, he still intends to sign with the Seminoles next month. The only news that gave Manuel a moment's pause, he said, was the possibility that FSU offensive coordinator and head coach-elect Jimbo Fisher might leave to become West Virginia's coach.

"I definitely called [Fisher] when I saw it on SportsCenter [late last month]," Manuel said Saturday after the Under Armour game.

Manuel said he wasn't terribly worried, but he needed to talk to Fisher just in case. "In the back of my mind, of course, I've got to think," he said. "You never know what could happen."

Fisher, who had spent the Sunday before Christmas contemplating West Virginia's offer, told Manuel he wasn't going anywhere. Fisher's decision to stay may also have kept Manuel from looking elsewhere. "If he had left," Manuel said, "I would have taken my visits."

Waiting game

Dayton (Ohio) Northmont offensive lineman Zebrie Sanders came to the Under Armour game set to announce a commitment to Florida or Georgia. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder had hoped to commit on ABC like Josh Jarboe, a Decatur, Ga. receiver who picked Oklahoma over Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. But a pair of phone calls changed the plan.

"I was supposed to commit today," Sanders said after the game. "I called Florida up and I called Georgia up. Coach Meyer and [Georgia] coach [Mark] Richt both told me that right now wouldn't be the right time."

This came on the same day that the Gators got a commitment from Seffner (Fla.) Armwood High offensive lineman Matt Patchan and Louisville (Ga.) Jefferson County lineman A.J. Harmon switched his commitment from Clemson to Georgia during the U.S. Army game.

So what gives? Why would the schools take those commitments and not one from Sanders?

This could be a "slow play," meaning Florida and Georgia coaches are encouraging Sanders to wait as they sort out their scholarship numbers and determine if they have room for him in their classes. NCAA rules allow schools to bring in only 25 new players a year, and some may not even have enough open scholarships to sign that many. So Sanders will wait until Sunday before announcing his final decision.

"Now I'm sort of thinking," Sanders said. "Maybe I should open it up a little bit more. I'm definitely committing Jan. 13. Coach Meyer is going to come to my house."

If the identity of his house guest is any indication of his first choice, it means Sanders may start a family rivalry. His mother, Ulanda, has a computer science degree from Georgia.

Of course, if the Gators don't have a scholarship, the Bulldogs still might. After committing in San Antonio, Harmon told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he is "kinda sure about Georgia" and may still consider Clemson.