The fourth oral commitment, Perry (from University School in Fort Lauderdale) is not as good as UM freshman Olivier Vernon, Fishbein said. Hialeah defensive end Corey Lemonier said Miami is ``really high'' but won't decide until signing day.

• Linebacker (four): Tyrone Cornelius (Stone Mountain, Ga.), Travis Williams (Norfolk, Va.), Javarie Johnson (Washington) and Kevin Nelson (Gainesville). ``Johnson is more ready to contribute than the others,'' Fishbein said. Williams, incredibly, has more than 70 career sacks.

• Defensive back (five): Devont'a Davis (Gainesville), Keion Payne (St. Thomas Aquinas), Raheam Buxton (Pahokee), Jeremy Davis (Fort Myers), Kacy Rodgers (Southlake, Texas). ``They've done well at cornerback, but there's no Lemarcus Joyner in that group,'' Newberg said, referring to an uncommitted St. Thomas Aquinas defensive back who is No. 5 among all prospects but wants to go away for college.

Payne is very good, but Devont'a Davis ``can be the best of that group,'' Fishbein said. ``Buxton was a reach. Jeremy Davis is one of their top three recruits in terms of potential.'' Belle Glades' Greg Dent changed his commitment from UM to FSU last week because he wants to play receiver.

• Kicker: None. But St. Thomas Aquinas' Ben Hopfinger might walk on and develop behind junior Matt Bosher.

CHATTER

• Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said it is meaningful to him that he's a starter again -- ``I'm concentrating better'' now -- but that he is still not playing nearly as much as he did in September. Bill Parcells has implored Ginn, ``You've got to dominate the ball when it's in the air.''

• Tight end Anthony Fasano returns from a hip injury Sunday, and one reason his catches are way down (34 in 2008, 14 in '09) is he is being used as a blocker more. He said his limited chances for receptions ``bothers me during losses. But there were tough catches I didn't come down with.''

• Paul Soliai, who needs to deliver with Jason Ferguson on injured reserve, said to disregard his struggles in his last game (against New England) because ``it was a stupid decision by me to play hurt'' that day with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the past two weeks. Soliai admitted he weighed as much as 380 pounds last year -- far more than he had let on -- and moves much faster now at 345.

• The Dolphins expected more pass rush from Phillip Merling and were pleased to see him get a sack against Carolina -- his first full sack since the opener (he has 2.5 for the season). Merling said he was in a funk and that coaches stopped playing him much on third-down passing situations until the Panthers game.

• Plus-minus numbers show the Heat has been better with Quentin Richardson or (less so) with James Jones at small forward with the other four starters, instead of with Michael Beasley and Udonis Haslem playing together. According to 82games.com, Miami's regular starting lineup, including Beasley and the recently sidelined Richardson, has outscored teams by 36 points. Miami is plus-24 with Haslem replacing Beasley in that lineup. When Jones is in the starting lineup in place of Richardson, the Heat is a plus-12 with Beasley; it's plus-six with Haslem instead of Beasley. But the lineup of Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Jermaine O'Neal, Haslem and Beasley has been outscored by four points.

• The Marlins believe Logan Morrison is ready to make the jump from Double A and challenge Gaby Sanchez at first base, which would allow Jorge Cantu to stay at third base and Wes Helms to be the backup at both positions.