West Virginia middle linebacker Reed Williams, the team-leading tackler last season, was cleared to return to tackling in practice today -- his first full contact in the 7 1/2 months since the Fiesta Bowl in which he was the defensive MVP.

Williams, recovering from offseason surgery on both shoulders and previously limited in drills, said it's still "up in the air" whether he could start in the opener Aug. 30 against Villanova.

"Get out there, bang around a little bit, see how it goes," Williams, a senior, said of rejoining contact. "Been awhile. I'm a little nervous."

Louisville quarterback Matt Simms was suspended for the team's first four games by coach Steve Kragthorpe for breaking team rules.

Simms, a redshirt freshman, was competing with Tyler Wolfe for the backup spot behind starter Hunter Cantwell. Simms is the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms and the brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms.

• Purdue running back Jaycen Taylor will miss the 2008 season because of a torn knee ligament.

• The NCAA informed Tennessee that Brandon Warren, who caught 27 passes for 301 yards as a freshman at Florida State in 2006, would be cleared to play for No. 18 Tennessee this season.

• Former University of Florida football player Jamar Hornsby was charged with four misdemeanors for using the credit card of a dead woman, the state attorney's office said.

• Redshirt junior Kevin Craft will start at quarterback for UCLA in its season opener against No. 18 Tennessee.

New Indiana coach Tom Crean got the job security he wanted, signing a 10-year contract worth at least $23.6 million.

• North Carolina guard Ty Lawson has pleaded guilty to underage drinking and driving. Lawson, 20, appeared in court after completing community service and other terms of his plea agreement.

Clay Bennett's ownership group has reached a final settlement with the city of Seattle, allowing the former SuperSonics franchise to move to Oklahoma City.

Robbie Fillmore, who never touched a club in two years away from the game, shot 5-under 65 on to win the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C.

Three NASCAR tracks will swap dates on the 2009 Sprint Cup schedule. Atlanta Motor Speedway will move its fall race from October to Labor Day weekend, with Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., giving up that date to move into the Chase for the championship Nov. 1 and Talladega Superspeedway moving its second race nearer the end of the season.

• Juan Pablo Montoya, who left Formula One for NASCAR two years ago, will need a new sponsor for 2009 after Chevron Corp. said it would end its backing of his car in the top Sprint Cup Series.

The Washington Wild Things jumped on host Gateway's starter, Justin Lilly for 6 runs, four earned, in five innings and cruised to a 7-1 victory against the Grizzlies in Sauget, Ill.