Even with the Early Signing Period in the books, there are plenty of outstanding recruiting battles leading up to National Signing Day. Here is a look at five of the best, focusing on prospects that are mainly focused on only two teams.
MORE: Team rankings evolve as National Signing Day nears | Updated Rivals250
There has been so much talk for such a long time that Surtain was leaning toward LSU, with its defensive back tradition in Baton Rouge and so many other factors playing in the Tigers’ favor. But this one is much closer than people think, and Alabama is not only a serious contender, it could be the team to beat after his visit to Tuscaloosa this past weekend. If the five-star cornerback picks Alabama, it would be another huge coup as the Crimson Tide continue to dominate college football. But if LSU can wrap up Surtain, then the Tigers have another potential superstar at cornerback and coach Ed Orgeron would notch a recruiting win over Nick Saban.
A late visit to Auburn could put the Tigers within striking distance, but this seems to be a two-team race between national powerhouses Clemson and Alabama. Clemson has been the favorite for a long while, and the five-star receiver took his official visit there during the season. The Tigers’ ability to crank out top-end wide receivers almost every year - plus a loaded quarterback group - can only help Clemson’s chances. But Alabama rarely loses the top-rated, in-state prospect (the last time it happened was 2012 when Jameis Winston picked Florida State) so the Crimson Tide could never be counted out. On top of that, Ross had a great visit to Tuscaloosa this past weekend so Alabama is right there, even if Clemson has been the longtime front-runner.
Georgia has the top-rated recruiting class with seven five-star pledges. Could the Bulldogs load up even more? The thinking is that after a recent visit to Athens, Georgia is the leader heading into the final weeks before National Signing Day but there’s one caveat - the five-star cornerback still will visit Miami on the last weekend. That could be a crucial visit for Campbell and the Hurricanes as they work to lock up the Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage standout. The Bulldogs look to be the front-runner leading into that Miami visit. Nothing will be set in stone until after that trip, but Georgia has to like its chances to hang on for the five-star standout.
Reese just visited Michigan this past weekend and the top four-star linebacker will be at Georgia this weekend as the Wolverines’ commit looks to figure things out once and for all. What’s tricky is that the Bulldogs only have a few spots remaining in this class, with Reese and Alabama linebacker pledge Quay Walker as two of the top targets. How that all plays out in the coming weeks is unknown, but Reese and Walker are definitely high priorities for coach Kirby Smart and his staff. By all accounts, Reese’s visit to Ann Arbor went really well. Soon, Georgia will have its chance. If the Wolverines could come into Georgia and keep one of the best prospects from flipping to the Bulldogs, it would be a huge coup for coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff.
Teams: Penn State, Ohio State
Another Big Ten battle is shaping up for Walker, as Penn State has been considered the front-runner for a long time in the four-star’s recruitment. But Ohio State has made tremendous strides, especially since he visited Columbus last weekend. Walker loves the fit across the offensive line at Penn State and has felt comfortable with the Nittany Lions for a long time. That could be a tremendous factor as the four-star finalizes his decision. But the Buckeyes are doing a great job in the closing weeks, and Walker is intrigued by the opportunity for playing time at Ohio State and the opportunities for development.
