Spring official visits are well into their second year of existence. And while one can certainly argue about how effective they've been in a small sample size, they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Today, Rivals.com Florida analyst Rob Cassidy has a look around the Sunshine State and explores some of the most notable offseason officials by prospects from the region.
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Issiah Walker to LSU
Committed prospects taking official visits is always interesting, and Walker has never been shy about his desire to look around despite being pledged to South Carolina. It’s not panic time in Columbia yet, but Gamecock fans should take the April 27 visit seriously. Walker is certainly a threat to have a change of heart down the stretch, and LSU is just one of a few possible poachers. If things go particularly well in Baton Rouge, there could be some tense times ahead.
Joshua Braun to Florida, South Carolina and Georgia
It’s hard to tell which of Braun’s spring official visits is most important, as the four-star tackle says very little and plays things close to the vest. He currently has trips set to Florida (May 17), South Carolina (May 31) and Georgia (June 14). How things go on said trips will dictate the direction of Braun’s recruitment, as he hopes to get things over with relatively early. The Gators hold an edge as things stand, but official visits have a way of shaking things up. UGA and South Carolina should not be taken lightly, especially with the Bulldogs getting his final trip of this round.
Marcus Dumervil to Oklahoma
Dumervil, a Rivals100 tackle, also visited Auburn this spring, but it seems as though his trip to Oklahoma may have had a bit more of an impact. His recruitment is sure to rage well into the fall, but the Sooners seem to hold a slight edge as things stand. With schools such as Alabama and Georgia also involved, Dumervil is certainly no lock to land in Norman, but Lincoln Riley and company have to love where they stand following the visit. The trips the tackle schedules this fall will likely dictate where his recrutement goes from here, but at least for now, OU looks like the team to beat.
Ja'Quavion Fraziars to Penn State
Penn State has experienced success with Sunshine State-based prospects as of late, so Florida fans have reason to be at least a bit nervous about Fraziars’ June 21 official visit to Happy Valley. Fraziars has had an impressive offseason, making waves on the 7-on-7 circuit and has become an extremely coveted commodity despite his standing as a Florida commit. Gator fans are all too familiar with Nittany Lions assistant Ja'Juan Seider, who worked at UF before jumping ship to Penn State. Seider is one of the best state-of-Florida recruiters in the country, and he is now in hot pursuit of Fraziars.
Jonathan Odom to Florida
Spring official visits are a bit of a gamble, as you risk the shine wearing off well before signing day arrives. That said, Odom’s situation is different. The Tampa-area prospect is a UF legacy, so Dan Mullen was charged with the task of not souring the lifelong Gators fan or letting him escape to a rival. The recent trip to Gainesville seems to have served its purpose, as the weekend solidified the Gators as the favorite to land the 6-foot-6 tight end. Odom has also officially visited LSU, but it seems as though Mullen and company will be hard to beat here.
