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LSU has docked itself two scholarships and restricted official recruiting visits with the hope that the NCAA won't come down harder on the Tigers over NCAA violations committed by former receivers coach D.J. McCarthy and former junior college signee Akiem Hicks.

McCarthy was forced to resign in December 2009, and Hicks never played in a game for the Tigers. He left the team following the 2009 season.

At the crux of the violations are improper transportation and housing for Hicks as well as excessive telephone contact. Hicks was allowed to live at an off-campus apartment for a reduced rate.

The NCAA will now decide whether or not LSU's self-imposed penalties are enough. If not, the NCAA could decide to investigate further and/or levy even stiffer penalties.

Under the self-imposed penalties, LSU will be allowed to bring in just 23 players in the February signing class as opposed to the usual maximum of 25. Also, LSU will be limited to 83 scholarship players (and not 85) on next year's roster.

Wrapping up the week with a check of what all's out there in the SEC:

• Jim Litke of The Associated Press writes that the reason Florida coach Urban Meyer has a problem with people telling the truth is because you can't believe some of the things coming out of Meyer's mouth.
• Some of the Alabama veterans think the Crimson Tide could be even more talented on defense than they were last season, writes Gentry Estes of The Mobile Press-Register.
• LSU coach Les Miles says the NCAA violations involving former receivers coach D.J. McCarthy and former player Akiem Hicks were caught early.
• The door on Bryce Brown's return to Tennessee's team is not completely closed, writes Dave Hooker of The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Ole Miss' starting quarterback job is up for grabs, writes Parrish Alford of The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Georgia's scrimmage on Saturday could answer some questions about who's leading the Bulldogs' quarterback derby.
• Class attendance policy costs South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery again.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU has concluded its investigation in the D.J. McCarthy/Akiem Hicks case and will now wait and see to what degree the NCAA gets involved.

In its 53-page report, LSU acknowledged there were NCAA violations committed by McCarthy, a former receivers coach, in the recruitment of Hicks. Those violations centered around improper telephone contact, transportation and summer housing for Hicks, who has since left LSU.

The good news for LSU is that Hicks, a junior college transfer, was never allowed to play last year in his only season with the Tigers. His scholarship was not renewed. Had he played, the Tigers would be subject to potentially having to forfeit any games in which he played.

McCarthy was not retained on LSU's staff following this past season. He was not allowed to recruit last fall after the school launched its investigation.

"We stand ready to assist the NCAA with any further information they may need to complete this process," LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said in a release.

"It is a very serious matter any time violations of NCAA rules are discovered, but I take comfort in the fact we have a compliance program in place that discovered these issues early and took swift action to minimize the severity of the situation."

Particularly with these violations being tied to recruiting, LSU could still face some sanctions after the NCAA takes a look at the case. But LSU chancellor Michael Martin said he believes the school avoided "potentially more severe sanctions" because the school detected the violations early and took the proper disciplinary measures.

Here’s a Western Division breakdown of who’s out and who’s in for the 2010 season. Auburn was the only team in the league without any turnover:

ALABAMA

Who’s out: Associate head coach/linebackers coach James Willis

Who’s in: Alabama coach Nick Saban promoted Jeremy Pruitt from director of player development to fill the vacancy left by Willis, who went to Texas Tech to be Tommy Tuberville’s defensive coordinator. Pruitt had been Alabama’s director of player development for the last three seasons and coached at Hoover High School just outside Birmingham prior to that.

ARKANSAS

Who’s out: Offensive coordinator/receivers coach Paul Petrino, assistant head coach/offensive line coach Mike Summers and defensive ends coach Kirk Botkin.

Who’s in: Garrick McGee was promoted to offensive coordinator after Paul Petrino left to take the Illinois offensive coordinator’s job. Kris Cinkovich will coach receivers after spending the last six seasons coaching receivers at UNLV. Steve Caldwell, who was out of coaching last season, will coach ends. Caldwell was on Phillip Fulmer’s staff at Tennessee for 14 seasons. Chris Klenakis will coach offensive line after coming over from Nevada.

LSU

Who’s out: Assistant head coach/running backs coach Larry Porter, receivers coach D.J. McCarthy and tight ends/recruiting coordinator Don Yanowsky.

Who’s in: Frank Wilson, who was at Tennessee last season, will coach the running backs and serve as recruiting coordinator. Billy Gonzales will coach receivers and serve as the passing game coordinator. Gonzales spent the last five seasons at Florida. Steve Ensminger, a former quarterback at LSU, will coach tight ends. He spent last season coaching high school football, but was at Auburn the six seasons prior to that and has also coached at Georgia, Clemson and Texas A&M.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Who’s out: Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush and defensive line coach David Turner.

Who’s in: Manny Diaz will be the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator and also coach linebackers. He was the defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State the previous four seasons. Chris Wilson will serve as co-defensive coordinator and coach the defensive line. He spent the last five seasons coaching the defensive line at Oklahoma.

OLE MISS

Who’s out: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kent Austin.

Who’s in: Dave Rader will coach quarterbacks and take over as co-offensive coordinator for Austin, who left to take the head-coaching job at Cornell. Rader was out of coaching the last three seasons, but was the offensive coordinator at Alabama under Mike Shula from 2003 to 2006. He was also the head coach at Tulsa from 1988 to 1999. Rader will share the coordinator duties with Mike Markuson, who was promoted by Houston Nutt and will also continue to coach the offensive line.

According to The Baton Rouge Advocate, LSU receivers coach D.J. McCarthy is at the center of possible NCAA rules violations the Tigers are investigating.

The probe also involves an unnamed player on LSU's team that didn't play this season.

LSU already has one opening on its staff with assistant head coach/running backs coach Larry Porter taking the Memphis head coaching job. Depending on what happens with this investigation, McCarthy's future at LSU could also be in question.

The Tigers lost their best recruiter in Porter, and McCarthy is also considered one of the top recruiters in the SEC.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

LSU isn't wasting any time when it comes to addressing one of its biggest needs for the next recruiting class.

Receiver Justin Hunter of Virginia Beach, Va., committed to LSU on Sunday evening, the second highly rated receiver prospect to jump aboard with the Tigers for the 2010 class. Mike Davis of Dallas committed in late February.

Both Hunter and Davis are ESPNU 150 Watch List players, and both were recruited by LSU receivers coach D.J. McCarthy, who along with assistant head coach/running backs coach Larry Porter gives the Tigers' one of the better recruiting tandems on any staff in the SEC.

LSU will have a big need at receiver after Brandon LaFell leaves following next season. The Tigers do have Rueben Randle coming in this summer, and he's expected to make an immediate impact in 2009. But Hunter and Davis also figure to be key pieces to the Tigers' future receiving rotation.

The 6-4, 175-pound Hunter, also a track standout, should especially help in the deep passing game with his 40-inch vertical leap and knack for making big plays down the field.

The Tigers now have nine commitments for the 2010 class.