Weekend Visit Preview: Rivalry Week brings out prospects
It’s Rivalry Week in college football and the visit by a bitter enemy means an outstanding recruiting opportunity for your program. Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have been among college football’s best recruiting head coaches over the last decade and know how to take advantage of a great atmosphere. They will host two of the biggest recruiting gatherings this weekend.
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ALABAMA
The visitor list for the 2018 version of the Iron Bowl is as impressive as you would expect. Seven official visitors, three of them five-stars, headline a contingent of prospects expected to be in Bryant-Denny Stadium to see if Auburn can upset an undefeated Alabama squad. Although the Crimson Tide have the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, they do not have a five-star currently committed. Running back Trey Sanders was previously committed to Alabama, and he returns to Tuscaloosa this weekend as one of those five-star official visitors.
The remaining list of official visitors for Alabama this weekend includes two prospects committed to other schools: Georgia five-star defensive end commit Nolan Smith and Texas A&M four-star linebacker commit Christian Harris.
Additionally, class of 2019 five-stars Darnell Wright, Clay Webb and George Pickens, the latter being an Auburn commit, are expected at Saturday’s game as unofficial visitors. After winning eight of the last 10 team recruiting titles, the Crimson Tide’s 2018 class sunk to seventh and did not win the SEC recruiting title for the first time since 2010. Success this weekend could go a long way toward Alabama making it nine of the last 12 team titles.
>>For more on Alabama’s recruiting weekend visit BamaInsider.com<<
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OHIO STATE
In one of the most important versions of “The Game,” this decade, Ohio State will host Michigan with the winner earning a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game the following weekend. The home team in this rivalry always takes advantage of the recruiting opportunity because no matter the records, Ohio State-Michigan always provides one of college football’s best atmospheres. That will be especially so this Saturday with so much on the line.
The theme of Ohio State’s official visitors for Rivalry Weekend will be defensive tackle. Four-star D’von Ellies along with three-stars Jared Hunte and Cavon Butler make up three-quarters of the weekend’s official visitors. The fourth official visitor will be three-star Florida State cornerback commit Renardo Green. The unofficial visitors list will be where the bulk of the star power is, headlined by five-star 2020 prospects Paris Johnson Jr. and Justin Rogers. Additional class of 2019 targets expected to be unofficial visitors include Iowa linebacker commit Jestin Jacobs and four-star linebacker Tommy Eichenberg.
>>For more on Ohio State's recruiting weekend, visit BuckeyeGrove.com<<
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GEORGIA
The Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry may not be as nationally revered as Ohio State-Michigan or the Iron Bowl, but it has featured plenty of clean, old-fashioned hate since 1893. This year Georgia is 10-1 and looking to claw their way back into the College Football Playoff, but Georgia Tech visits Athens with a 7-4 record and looking for its third win in the last five iterations of this rivalry. Kirby Smart is not one to waste a rivalry game atmosphere, and the Bulldogs’ head man has key official visitors lined up for the weekend.
The biggest de-commitment of the 2019 cycle was five-star wide receiver Jadon Haselwood stepping away from his Georgia pledge in October after seven months. Haselwood has since been on official visits to Miami, Florida State and Auburn, but returns to Athens this weekend to let the Dawgs have the final say. He will be joined by fellow official visitors Rivals100 running back Noah Cain and Rivals250 Georgia commit Makiya Tongue. Befitting the in-state rivalry, the list of unofficial visitors is expected to be heavy with Peach State prospects.
>>Check out UGASports.com for more on Georgia’s weekend visitors<<
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FLORIDA STATE
While the on-field results have not been strong in Willie Taggart’s inaugural season, Florida State’s recruiting clout remains intact. The Seminoles have a top 15 class despite just 15 commitments, and their 3.93 average star rating is bested only by Georgia. A few of those 15 commitments, however, continue to look around and part of the chore for Taggart in signing a strong first, full class will be keeping those commitments intact. This weekend’s rivalry showcase with Florida coming to town will be an opportunity to do work on that front.
Two of Florida State’s more liberal commitments are safety Nick Cross and linebacker Kalen Deloach, and both are expected to make unofficial visits for Saturday’s game. The only confirmed official visitor is quarterback commit Sam Howell, though, four-star defensive end target Lloyd Summerall’s visit may end up an official as well. Among top uncommitted targets expected in Tallahassee are five-star 2020 wide receiver Leonard Manuel and four-star 2019 athlete Raymond Woodie III, the son of Florida State’s linebacker coach.
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MIAMI
While two of the big three in Florida will face off in Tallahassee on Saturday, Miami is going to siphon off some of the state’s top recruiting visitors for their home contest against Pittsburgh. Mark Richt actually kicked off the visits early this week, taking advantage of a light school week to get prospects on campus Wednesday. Rivals100 targets John Dunmore and Tyrique Stevenson joined four-star cornerback commit Te’Cory Couch at the Hurricanes' practice and that could set the tone for a big weekend.
Official visitors expected in this weekend include four-star Brooklyn defensive end Adisa Isaac. Miami is in a tussle with Penn State for Isaac’s services, and this weekend is the opportunity to take the lead. Additionally, three-star running back DJ Williams will be making his official visit to Coral Gables this weekend. An Appalachian State commit, Williams was offered by Miami after the ‘Canes lost the commitment of Jacksonville running back Marcus Crowley.
