Torbush hired to Mississippi State staff

STARKVILLE, Miss. — New Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has hired Knoxville native and Carson-Newman assistant head coach Carl Torbush to his staff.

Torbush, who has coached at Carson-Newman since 2006, also is a former head coach at North Carolina and Louisiana Tech.

He came to Carson-Newman after spending five seasons as defensive coordinator for Dennis Franchione at Alabama and Texas A&M. He also was a defensive coordinator at Ole Miss in the mid-1980s.

Torbush was an All-American at Carson-Newman after playing at East High School, before it combined with Austin. He coached at Carter High School.

He was national defensive coordinator of the year while on the North Carolina staff in 1996.

Mullen also hired former Ole Miss and Southern Miss assistant coach Frank Wilson.

Alabama Attorney General's Office To Review Smith Situation: The Alabama attorney general's office is reviewing reports of alleged contact between Crimson Tide offensive tackle Andre Smith and a sports agent after the All-American was suspended from the Sugar Bowl.

The attorney general's office began reviewing the situation to see if a full investigation is warranted, spokesman Chris Bence said.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban suspended the Outland Trophy winner on Monday for violation of unspecified team rules, but several media outlets reported that the punishment stemmed from improper dealings with an agent.

Miami QB To Transfer: Quarterback Robert Marve is leaving Miami, ending weeks of speculation about his future and adding to the tumultuous start of the Hurricanes' offseason.

"I had to get out," Marve told the AP from his family's home in Tampa. "I just decided that I can't play for Coach Shannon."

Florida, Tennessee and LSU were thought of as possible destinations for Marve - but restrictions on his release may prevent him from playing at any of those schools.

The release comes with conditions that he can't play for teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the SEC or the state of Florida.

In other news:

n Florida's Percy Harvin ran routes and caught passes Tuesday, his most work since spraining his right ankle last month against Florida State. Coach Urban Meyer called his do-it-all receiver probable for next week's Bowl Championship Series national title game against No. 2 Oklahoma.

n Auburn defensive lineman Sen'Derrick Marks says he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Marks was a second-team All-SEC pick by coaches this season after making 32 tackles, including 10 for loss.

n UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker has been hired as New Mexico State's new head coach. Walker becomes the seventh black head coach at the 119 major college football schools. He will replace Hal Mumme, who was fired in early December after the Aggies went 3-9.