The stretch run to National Signing Day is underway, as only two visit weekends remain before prospects put pen to paper. The existence of the Early Signing Period has narrowed the player pool, sure, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty in the fertile recruiting ground of Florida, where a number of major prospects remain unsigned. Below, we have a look at where five such prospects will be this weekend and examine the impact of the official visits at hand.
MORE: Team rankings evolving as signing day nears | Updated Rivals250 |
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Florida was once thought to be the favorite to land Petit-Frere and is still among the front-runners. That alone makes the upcoming weekend massively important. Mix in the fact that it provides a chance for the Rivals100 lineman to get more acquainted with the Gators’ new coaching staff and the culture it brings and things look even more crucial. With schools like Alabama and Notre Dame also involved, UF has to wow the in-state star during his visit. The Gators have always been near the top of Petit-Frere’s list for a reason, so this weekend is about sealing the deal.
The destination: South Carolina
South Carolina is a dark horse at best. Florida State is the team to beat, and Tennessee is probably the second option. But that’s what makes the coming weekend vital for the Gamecocks. Much stranger things have happened in recruiting, after all. Things would have to go extraordinarily well for the Gamecocks to topple the Seminoles, and head coach Will Muschamp is hoping that’s exactly what takes place. Everyone loves an underdog story, and South Carolina landing Thompson would be just that.
The destination: Florida
Like Petit-Frere, Barnes was once seen as a near-lock to Florida. The coaching change may have set things back on that front a bit. UF’s weekend mission will be about erasing doubt. New coaching staffs are locked in a game of catch-up and, to some extent, they’re tasked with selling a dream. Dan Mullen and company will need to convince Barnes that the future is bright in Gainesville, all while solidifying a relationship that began late in the process. Barnes’ history with the program combined UF’s proximity to home will certainly help that take place.
The destination: Alabama
A one-time Florida commit, Copeland is coming off a visit to Texas A&M. His trip to Alabama will be an interesting one, as the Tide are already considered the ever-so-slight favorite to land the four-star receiver. The weekend will be about erasing doubt from Copeland and making a lasting impression that will linger beyond his scheduled visit to Florida on Feb. 2. The Gators being gifted Copeland’s final visit shouldn’t be dismissed as insignificant, and it makes Nick Saban’s weekend task more difficult.
The Destination: Florida State
Briggs’ Jan. 12 official visit to Miami put the Hurricanes in the driver’s seat, but the weekend ahead provides Willie Taggart with an opportunity to close the gap. Briggs always intended to stay in-state for college, but he has had differing levels of interest in FSU over the past year. Where the new staff stands with the four-star prospect remains a bit unclear. That, in itself, is what makes the visit weekend important. The Briggs situation is a microcosm of the situation in which the Seminoles’ staff finds itself, as it is forced to play catch-up down the stretch. That said, Taggart is a proven recruiter, so ruling him out in this instance would be unwise.
