Alabama

MOBILE — Two Alabama players accepted bids to play in the Senior Bowl, officials announced Wednesday.

All-SEC defensive back Simeon Castille and wide receiver DJ Hall, the most prolific pass catcher in school history, will represent the Crimson Tide in the Jan. 26 contest.

The duo will join teammate Wallace Gilberry, the SEC’s leader in tackles for loss and the Independence Bowl defensive MVP. He was announced as a Senior Bowl participant in December.

A 2007 coaches first-team All-SEC selection, Castille led the Crimson Tide with 10 pass break-ups to go with 63 tackles and two interceptions.

Hall finished his Tide career with records for receptions in a season (67), career receptions (194) and career receiving yards (2,923).

Tennessee

TAMPA, Fla. — Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he expects two more coaches to leave his staff now that the season has ended.

Fulmer said he believes running backs coach Kurt Roper and tight ends coach Matt Luke will join already-departed offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe’s staff at Duke.

“Those guys have a decision to make,” Fulmer said. “If they’re not going, they’ve got jobs at Tennessee, but they better let me know soon.”

Cutcliffe was hired by Duke on Dec. 14, but remained with the Vols through their 21-17 win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl on Tuesday.

Fulmer said he believes Roper will serve as Cutcliffe’s offensive coordinator and Luke will coach the offensive line. Both worked with Cutcliffe when he coached at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. — Derrick Nix will join his brother, Tyrone, on Houston Nutt’s coaching staff at Mississippi.

Derrick Nix, the younger brother of Nutt’s new defensive coordinator, comes to Oxford from the Atlanta Falcons, where he served as offensive assistant and quality control coach for former coach Bobby Petrino.

Like Tyrone Nix, Derrick Nix is a former player and assistant coach at Southern Miss.

Nutt told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that Louis Campbell left his staff for Mississippi State, clearing the way for Derrick Nix.

The hire completes Nutt’s staff of nine coaches.

Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas junior running back Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1,619 yards this season, announced Wednesday he will leave the Longhorns to enter the NFL draft.

Charles joined Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell and Cedric Benson as the only Longhorns to rush for more than 1,500 yards in a season. He had 161 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State. The Longhorns finished 10-3.

His biggest game of the season was a career-high 290 yards in a 28-25 win over Nebraska in which he had 216 yards and three long TDs in the fourth quarter.

He indicated after the bowl game he would return, but had filed paperwork with the NFL to test where he might get drafted. The response, which he did not disclose, prompted his decision, he said in a statement released by the school.

“Playing in the NFL has always been my dream and when the NFL report came back, I was happy with the grade and felt like it was best for me to enter the draft,” Charles said.

Charles is the rare Texas player to leave early in coach Mack Brown’s 10 seasons. Quarterback Vince Young, who led Texas to the 2005 national championship, is the only other Longhorn to enter the draft early in that span.

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