But if the situation proceeds the way it is heading, what Miami is about to gain will be the young man on Monday named Florida's top high school football player.

San Antonio Churchill High quarterback Nick Fanuzzi, who committed last year to Miami, switched his commitment to Alabama on Monday. He became the fourth quarterback in three University of Miami signing classes to decommit.

Meanwhile, quarterback Robert Marve, the Class 4A Player of the Year who led Tampa Plant High to the state title and was named Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football, appears increasingly ready to choose UM over his previous commitment to Alabama.

Marve, 17, said he will announce his decision after a weekend visit to Hawaii.

"We are very honored to have the opportunity to attend one of the best academic universities in the country and to play for a great coach in Randy Shannon at the University of Miami," said Euguene Marve, an 11-year NFL linebacker who played with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and San Diego. "Miami is in our home state and has closed the gap even more.

"Coach Shannon just might land Mr. Football."

But Eugene Marve said his son, "who is becoming a man," would have the final say.

Marve, whose coach, Robert Weiner, won the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year, set state records in 2006 for passing yards (4,380), completions (280) and touchdowns (48) — all surpassing 2005 Mr. Football Tim Tebow's records. Tebow is the quarterback for the national champion Florida Gators.