The treasures, seemingly, are in the Deep South, and that''s where Ron Turner is looking as he tries to salvage a tough Illini football recruiting season.

   Two new commitments from last weekend''s visitors  defensive back Anthony Hurd of New Orleans and 300-pound lineman Jay Kulaga of Seminole, Fla.  brought the number of prospective signees to 13. They follow recent commitments by running back Jameel Cook of Miami, 300-pound Daniel Cutter of Tampa, linebacker Chris Gaddis of Ouachita, La., and defensive end Ray Redziniak of Milford Prep (Conn.).

   Obviously, the Illini are looking well beyond the state as they hold their last big recruiting weekend with 15 to 20 prospects on campus starting Friday. The initial signing date is Feb. 5.

   "The state of Illinois was pretty well picked over by the time Turner left the Bears," said Greg Georgelos, who works with recruiting guru Tom Lemming on the Prep Football Report.

   "Turner brings a lot of enthusiasm, and he could be dominant in the Chicago area in the future. But there isn''t much he can do in Illinois right now, and his new coaches are working areas they''re familiar with."

   Former Tulane head coach Buddy Teevens was directly responsible for Hurd, a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder who first made his name as a sprinter on the St. Augustine track team.

   "We took him from track, and he turned out to be a vicious hitter," said David Jenkins, St. Augustine assistant football coach. "He was a two-year starter. This is a hotbed for high school athletes, and he''s one of the best. He separates receivers from the football."

UI will emphasize in-state efforts

   "We''ll draw a circle around our area," said Craig Ver Steeg, who left the Bears with Turner to become UI recruiting coordinator. Ver Steeg refers to the area from Chicago to Indianapolis to St. Louis and up the western border. But right now, so late in the game, it is catch as catch can.

   "Coaches usually get hired around Christmas, and in the Big Ten the list (of prospects) is pretty much reduced by all the recruiting that others have done in the previous summer and fall.

   "The key is what we do from now on. We have to establish relationships over a 365-day period. Right now we''re trying to take advantage of some players that our coaches were recruiting at other schools. We may use all 18 of our available scholarships if we can get top players. Otherwise, we''ll save some."

   Geographical areas have been handed out as follows:

   Ver Steeg: Local and West Coast.

   Teevens: Chicago area and Louisiana.

   Tim Kish: Chicago area, Georgia, northern Florida.

   Harry Hiestand: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.

   Pete McCarty: Chicago area, Detroit, Indiana and Wisconsin.

   Leslie Frazier: Chicago area.

   Jim Helms: Central Illinois, Memphis, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.

   O''Neill Gilbert: Louisiana, southern Florida and Dallas.

   Greg McMahon: St. Louis area, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa (junior colleges).

   Ver Steeg emphasizes with McMahon working the Metro East sector, the Illini will have seven coaches involved with in-state high schools.

   "We intend to cover the state," he said. "And there are still a few players in Illinois that we have interest in."

Tate''s tidbits

    Hazelwood East receiver Reggie Germany, top-rated prospect in St. Louis, "decommitted" from Missouri, saying he''ll attend Ohio State. After dominating in St. Louis in recent years, the UI may go without a player from that area, although 1996 signee Jason Eberhart is expected to arrive a year late.

    Lemming''s Prep Report in January lists one Illini recruit in his top 100, Bloom lineman Luke Butkus (No. 84).

   Seven other Illinois preps are in the 100, but except for Joliet receiver-DB Eric Parker (No. 42, Tennessee), all have questions associated with them.

   Proviso West tackle Hubert Thompson (No. 6, Michigan State) is learning disabled. Richards fullback Demetrius Smith (No. 48, Michigan) had a disappointing season. Wilmington halfback Damien Anderson (No. 58, NU) ran up his 2,002 yards and 37 touchdowns against questionable opposition, leaving doubts. Thornridge linebacker Reggie Hayward (No. 88, Iowa State) has not yet qualified. Thornton QB Antwaan Randle-El (No. 93, Indiana) is more runner than passer and intends to play two sports at Indiana. Sandburg QB Zak Kustok (No. 97, Notre Dame) failed to impress, falling short of 1,000 yards passing.

   Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. His column on recruiting appears weekly.