How's this for instant, just-add-water recruiting: Confident junior-college cornerback Chaz Russell committed Monday to West Virginia and expects to practice there next Tuesday.

Be ready by the Aug. 30 opener? Heck, he talks as if he could start against Villanova that day.

"I'll come in and compete right away," Russell, a Floridian by way of Los Angeles Pierce Community College, said by phone yesterday. "I'm getting taught by the best coaches. I'm pretty sure they'll get me ready."

This, however, was a more muted response than what Russell told Memphis, Tenn., television station WHBQ when he made an official visit with the Tigers last weekend:

I'm shutting down one side of the field pretty much. There are no points on that side of the field. I can promise that. Matter of fact, I can swear that.

Russell backtracked slightly yesterday: "But that's Conference USA; this is the Big East. You know the difference. I already know, once I get taught by the coaches there and get this team around me, all I have to do is my assignments. Once I can get it down pat, I can take care of my half of the field."

Pierce CC coach Efrain Martinez added: "He's a confident kid, but you won't be hearing about 'this player got suspended.' He's persevered, and he's matured. That's the one big thing: He's not going to go in there like a freshman would, shell-shocked."

Russell, who has one last class tomorrow before receiving his two-year degree ("I'm taking care of business; I got it under control," he vowed), visited Akron, Memphis and, two weeks ago, West Virginia in a recruiting rush caused by his late flourish to finish junior college.

Martinez said Southern California, Oregon and Kansas State also jumped late into the courtship of the 6-foot, 195-pound player, who said, "I was hearing from the world." Russell initially went west due to a friend's suggestion and sat out his first season there, in 2006, so this Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product could adjust from Stranahan High School quarterback to California junior-college cornerback. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

"People will find out who he is soon enough," Martinez added of the player with 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash. "Especially three years down the line."

Russell, who is from the same high school as former West Virginia running back Undra Johnson, said Mountaineers coaches told him he could compete at cornerback, where seniors Ellis Lankster and Kent Richardson are working on the first team. Russell, however, left open the possibility of a position change.

He returned his only interception last season at Pierce for a 40-yard touchdown, and he also saw considerable action as a returner: 12.71 yards per punt return, with a 26 long, and 22.78 per kickoff return, with a 45 long. He was credited with only five tackles last season, but Martinez said, "People didn't throw the ball out [toward] him. He played against three [junior-college] All-Americans, and not one of them caught a touchdown on him, or over three or four catches on him. You realize, holy smokes, this guy shut down all these guys."

NOTES -- Defensive lineman Pat Liebig received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA yesterday, coach Bill Stewart announced. Coaches told other defensive linemen at camp's opening that they were all vying to unseat Liebig from any of the three starting jobs, though he'll likely start at defensive end. ... Stewart said Norwin tight end Tyler Urban, ballyhooed offensive lineman Josh Jenkins, fullback Ryan Clarke and safety Robert Sands are the few freshman likely to see playing time on offense and defense this fall. ... Seneca Valley's Don Barclay is the first guard-tackle replacement.