Weekend recruiting buzz: A dozen big visits

Another busy weekend of visits happen across the country this weekend with major games especially in SEC towns. Here is a look at a dozen of the most important visits happening in the coming days.

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Bowen committed to Notre Dame on Jan. 1 but Texas A&M, Oklahoma and other programs closer to home have continued to pursue the Denton (Texas) Guyer four-star safety who could end up as the top-rated player at his position this recruiting cycle.

Bowen being in College Station this weekend could be huge as it’s going to be a massive recruiting weekend. The Irish have stumbled to an 0-2 start and the Aggies’ defense is young and super talented.

Anthony Hill, Bravion Rogers and others are expected in town as well and that could intrigue Bowen.

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A little double-dipping could happen for Brown this weekend as the Miami Gulliver Prep four-star receiver remains happily committed to LSU but he has looked at the Hurricanes closely and Texas A&M continues to pursue him.

Getting to see both teams battle it out in College Station will be important. A source close to Brown said “not at all” when asked if there was anything to read into this visit, but any time a committed player takes a big visit like this it perks up some attention.

The high four-star athlete from Lincoln (Neb.) East was at Nebraska’s game against North Dakota, then was in attendance with his family for the Georgia Southern loss that ended Scott Frost’s coaching career with the Huskers.

Now Coleman will be back for interim coach Mickey Joseph’s first game against Oklahoma this weekend. That has to be considered positive news for Nebraska as things are tumultuous and Coleman still wants to return to Memorial Stadium.

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Michigan, USC, LSU, Maryland and others are some of the main contenders in Harbor’s recruitment, but so is South Carolina, and the five-star athlete is returning to Columbia this weekend for another important visit.

The Washington (D.C.) St. John’s standout loves the coaching staff in Columbia, and they’ve made him a top priority because he’s such an incredible athlete. If the Gamecocks can hang with Georgia, then that could monumentally help them in landing the five-star.

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Should we believe the rumors that Texas could flip the five-star linebacker from the Aggies? Longhorns commits are working hard on the Denton (Texas) Ryan standout, and his recruitment did come down to Texas and Texas A&M, but it’s a good sign for the Aggies that Hill is returning to College Station this weekend.

Texas A&M landed his commitment, and Hill doesn’t seem like one who wants to play the recruiting game. So, another trip there is big with so many other top recruits.

Johnson-Rubell might play at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, but the strong feeling is that he will end up back closer to home in Texas for college, and the Longhorns are the frontrunner at this point.

Getting back to campus is good news for Texas as Johnson-Rubell has shown interest in the Longhorns throughout his recruitment, along with Oklahoma, TCU and many others. Another trip to Austin should only help the Longhorns.

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This one is very interesting because leading up to Mitchell’s commitment to Alabama there was significant talk that Texas A&M was the team to beat. The four-star defensive back from Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson said as much late in his recruitment.

That could’ve been a smokescreen as he was ready to pick the Crimson Tide but Mitchell has been intrigued by Texas A&M for a long time. Getting back to College Station and this environment is definitely huge and could be significant if he gets a feeling for the Aggies again.

Georgia looks to be the team to beat, with Miami, Notre Dame and others very much in the mix, but the five-star's visit to Baton Rouge is a major deal. The Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy defensive end could be influenced by a major setting like Death Valley, especially if LSU’s defense looks the part against a tough Mississippi State offense.

Georgia has to like where it stands right now, but the Bulldogs also must be looking over their shoulder at this visit.

Playing at a big-time school that produces elite defensive backs is a major deal for Ricks, a five-star and the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2024 class. So, getting to LSU this weekend is serious for him.

Alabama could have the edge but Florida, Miami and others are in the mix here. A major environment in Baton Rouge could blow him away and his relationship with position coach Robert Steeples will keep the Tigers in this.

The San Diego Lincoln four-star running back who’s off to a monstrous start to his senior season has been committed to UCLA since May and has reiterated numerous times he’s locked in with the Bruins. But Robinson is now taking a big visit to Texas A&M, and that could have a cascading effect because Georgia and others have been reaching out as well. Robinson seems loyal to UCLA, but SEC environments like College Station could change things.

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Auburn is going to have a big contingent of recruits at its game against Penn State this weekend, and many will be important targets, including the Montgomery (Ala.) Carver defensive tackle and his close friend and teammate Jaquavious Russaw.

The two have talked about playing at the same school and being a package deal, and this is one where it’s likely to happen. Alabama and Georgia have the edge right now, but Auburn is working hard to get them and could emerge after this weekend - if things go really well.

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The five-star receiver is a week away from his commitment date, and one contingent believes he’s already a lock to Florida State. Another believes Texas A&M is still the frontrunner in a close recruitment.

Williams will be back in College Station this weekend, and the Aggies were definitely the team to beat in recent months, but the Seminoles have absolutely closed the gap here. The Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Stranahan standout is a big Mike Evans fan, though, so being at Kyle Field could be influential.