Duke Coach David Cutcliffe might go to Tennessee

Duke coach and former Tennessee assistant David Cutcliffe appears to be the target of the Volunteers’ search for a new head coach.

Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton has kept quiet about his candidates to replace Lane Kiffin, who abruptly resigned Tuesday night to coach USC. Duke spokesman Art Chase called reports of a deal between Cutcliffe and Tennessee inaccurate, and Hamilton told the Associated Press by text message late Thursday that he’s “still working” on interviews.

Cutcliffe twice served on Tennessee’s staff and spent eight years as the Vols’ offensive coordinator under former coach Phillip Fulmer.

Skip Holtz is leaving East Carolina to take over as the football coach at South Florida.

East Carolina spokesman Tom McClellan said Holtz informed the Pirates of his decision in a meeting Thursday afternoon.

Holtz replaces Jim Leavitt, who was fired earlier this month after a school investigation concluded he grabbed a player by the throat, slapped him in the face, then lied about it. Holtz compiled a 38-27 record in five seasons with the Pirates, including wins in the last two Conference USA championship games.

Texas Tech announced that Ruffin McNeill, the defensive coordinator and interim head coach after the school suspended and then fired Mike Leach last month, is leaving the program. McNeill came to Texas Tech with Leach in 2000 and was the only other candidate for the head coaching job that was filled by Tommy Tuberville.

West Virginia running back Noel Devine and wide receiver Jock Sanders will return for their senior seasons instead of entering the NFL draft. Devine, who rushed for 1,465 yards, and Sanders, the team’s leading receiver, were the Mountaineers’ co-offensive players of the year.

PRO FOOTBALL

Titans’ Johnson tops NFL All-Pro team

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson was the only unanimous choice for the Associated Press 2009 NFL All-Pro team. Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards, received all 50 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers. San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis had 49 votes, while Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson, New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and Oakland punter Shane Lechler each got 48 votes.

Buffalo Bills interim Coach Perry Fewell has been hired as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator. Coach Tom Coughlin announced the move after Fewell spent the past few days weighing offers from the Giants and the Chicago Bears. Fewell interviewed for the vacant Bills coaching job but he has said for a while that he felt he was a longshot for that position.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Player dies after collapsing in game

Southern Indiana officials said center Jeron Lewis died after collapsing during a game at Kentucky Wesleyan.

Athletic department spokesman Ray Simmons said the 21-year-old Lewis collapsed on the court with about four minutes left in Thursday night’s game in Owensboro. He died at a local hospital just before 10 p.m.

Lewis was averaging 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds in his second season at Southern Indiana.

ETC.

Garrett: Mayo has refused to cooperate

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett said that former Trojans guard O.J. Mayo refused to cooperate in a university investigation into allegations that Mayo accepted improper gifts and benefits while he played for the school during the 2007-08 season.

“No, he has not participated,” Garrett told ESPN’s Shelley Smith on Wednesday. “But as you read in the paper, he says, you know, ‘I love USC’ and things like that so, that’s about all I know about that.”

On Jan. 3, USC imposed sanctions on its men’s basketball program for violating NCAA rules related to Mayo and his relationship with Rodney Guillory.

Veteran midfielder Clint Mathis is returning to the Galaxy in a draft-day trade with Real Salt Lake.

Six players share the lead at five-under-par 65 after the first round PGA Tour’s Sony Open at Honolulu -- Robert Allenby, John Merrick, Davis Love III, Troy Merritt, Ryan Palmer and defending champion Zach Johnson.

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge may not be ready for the start of the season after undergoing his second surgery in three months.