Game-day visits are starting again with a full slate of college football games and many top prospects are hitting the road. Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney looks at the six most interesting trips over the weekend:
Cedric Baxter - Florida
Texas landed a commitment from the four-star running back from Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater in early August but Florida and others did not back down and now Baxter will be in Gainesville for the Utah showdown Saturday night. The Swamp at night for not only the season opener but the first game for coach Billy Napier and his staff should be an electric environment so that could play in the Gators’ favor. But Baxter plans to be back in Austin in a few weeks not for the Alabama game because of a timing challenge but for the UTSA contest. This is definitely a development to watch since Gainesville is only two hours from home but there’s been no serious indication yet that Baxter is thinking about a flip or anything serious yet.
Jalen Hale - Alabama
As Hale’s recruitment has moved into his senior season, Texas has emerged as the team to beat for the four-star in-state receiver at Longview but Alabama could be the biggest threat to the Longhorns and he’s in Tuscaloosa this weekend. The Crimson Tide should put on a show against Utah State and that could appeal greatly to Hale but his relationship with Texas QB commit Arch Manning and everything going on in Austin still makes us think the Horns will be tough to beat here for one of the nation’s top wide receivers.
Justice Haynes - Georgia
This is definitely one to watch since Haynes is a Georgia legacy and the Bulldogs will not go down without a big-time fight for the No. 1 running back in the class. Maybe Haynes is heading over to Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta to just enjoy one of the best games on the college football slate this weekend between Georgia and Oregon or maybe there is real intrigue here. The four-star from Buford, Ga., picked Alabama over the Bulldogs in mid-July but there’s no doubt Georgia is looking for an elite running back in this class.
Keon Keeley - Ohio State
Most people thought when Keeley decommitted from Notre Dame that he was an Alabama lock but that doesn’t seem to be the case just yet. Sure, the Crimson Tide could be tough to beat for the five-star defensive end from Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep but Keeley will be in Columbus for the big Notre Dame showdown Saturday night and it should be a star-studded event. Some believe Keeley is leaning toward staying in the Southeast with Alabama and Florida mainly battling but what he sees at Ohio State this weekend (especially against the team he had been committed to) could change his mind.
Cormani McClain - Florida
The five-star cornerback has Alabama, Florida and Miami among his frontrunners and the Lakeland, Fla., standout will be in Gainesville tonight. His relationship with the coaching staff there has picked up dramatically in recent months and some believe the Gators have the edge right now while others still see the Crimson Tide up top. A high-level showing from Florida’s defense could play a big role in McClain’s thinking as the environment should be loud and exciting. It’s a big opportunity for Florida to shine in the five-star cornerback’s recruitment.
Hykeem Williams - Florida State
This has become an incredibly interesting recruitment and Williams’ step to pay his own way to New Orleans this weekend to see Florida State take on LSU is something to monitor. The Seminoles have seriously emerged for the five-star wide receiver out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Stranahan especially after a recent visit to Tallahassee and this is the next important step for Williams to consider FSU. Texas A&M is definitely still a major player and Pitt is as well because of his relationship with position coach Tiquan Underwood but Williams traveling to New Orleans this weekend does say something.
