Ask Farrell: Which visits are the most intriguing?
There are five uncommitted five-stars left before National Signing Day on Wednesday and four are on the road this weekend taking some really interesting visits. The other one - running back Zachary Evans - is still playing in the state playoffs.
After some rumors about where he would end up this weekend, Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School defensive end Jordan Burch wound up at Georgia. Clemson, LSU, Alabama and South Carolina are also in contention for Burch, who says little to nothing about his recruitment.
Five-star linebacker Justin Flowe is at USC. The Trojans have not been considered among his top group but the Upland, Calif., standout is taking the visit anyway as coach Clay Helton and his staff try to convince him to stay home. Clemson and Oregon are battling it out for his services along with some others.
Georgia has been considered the longtime favorite for five-star cornerback Kelee Ringo and he’s back on campus this weekend. However, Oregon seems to also be making a serious move for the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro prospect along with Texas keeping pace.
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Five-star tight end Darnell Washington has been busy taking visits over the last few weekends seeing Miami and Alabama and this weekend he’s at Tennessee. Again, Georgia could have the edge for the Las Vegas Desert Pines recruit but the Volunteers and others are not giving up and a surprise could be coming in Washington’s recruitment.
Then there is the case of Trenton Simpson. The former Auburn commit from Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek decommitted from the Tigers in late October and North Carolina surged to the top of his list. It looked like a foregone conclusion that he would end up in the Tar Heels’ recruiting class.
However, Simpson visited Clemson this weekend and recently committed so the intrigue around his recruiting is done.
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell which of these weekend visits are the most intriguing to him and which ones could be most telling as to what the prospects are thinking heading into the early signing period?
FARRELL'S TAKE
“I think you have to look at the Georgia recruiting weekend with Burch and Ringo. They’ve led for Ringo for a long time but Oregon has made a really nice run of things lately and are a real threat. And Burch is hard to read and we all know how well Kirby Smart can close. Can they land both and shoot up the recruiting rankings? I’m interested in all the big visits but my eye is on Georgia this weekend.”