10 Weekend College Football Official Visits Stories to Track
National Signing Day is just 12 days away and college football programs coast to coast are coming off of the road recruiting to host visitors on their home turf.
As one would expect, elite prospects still unsigned are still taking multiple visits down the stretch before going public with a decision February 5 and SI All-American has the big names and where they're headed all in one spot.
1. If there is a program in line to add the most of its expected official visitors this weekend among the top teams in the rankings, our bet would be on Dan Mullen and Florida. From SI All-American running back Jahmyr Gibbs, a current Georgia Tech commitment, to late-rising tight end Dee Beckwith and top available in-state talent Avantae Williams -- UF has a star group expected in Gainesville. Throw in committed prospect Marc Britt, who received in-home visits from LSU and Ole Miss of late and all of a sudden projects as a battle, and there are important targets all over the field flooding campus just in time.
2. Top unsigned offensive tackle recruit and longtime Georgia commitment Broderick Jones is already on his Illinois official visit. It was a surprise trip but so far, so good. To say a signature for the Big Ten program in 12 days would be a surprise would be the biggest understatement of the year thus far. Jones will finish out the weekend at Georgia, where time with new Bulldog offensive line coach Matt Luke will be key. Making the trip the same weekend in the offensive line recruit similarly looking around despite the UGA pledge in Sedrick Van Pran. The duo is somewhat close, too.
3. Oregon's run as Pac-12 champion on the field is going to roll right into a recruiting crown in the league but can the Ducks lock in a place in the top 10 this weekend? With visitors like Florida State wide receiver commitment Malachi Wideman and massive two-way Alabama line pledge Jayson Jones in Eugene this weekend, either would signify a strong move in that direction for Mario Crsitobal's program.
4. Arkansas has a huge weekend on deck, with a pair of quarterbacks serving as headliners in Malik Hornsby of Texas and CJ Dixon of Georgia. Each of these senior passers were once committed elsewhere in the Power Five (Hornsby to North Carolina, Dixon to Illinois) and are looking for a home with little time remaining in the cycle. Can Arkansas land one or maybe even both as Sam Pittman turns over the roster? The Hogs will also host Alabama wide receiver pledge Javon Baker and highly-regarded uncommitted tight end Brandon Frazier, among others.
5. McKinnley Jackson may be visiting his future program this weekend. The Mississippian is expected at LSU for his official visit after spending last weekend at Alabama on his own dime. This is shaping up to be another classic Tigers and Tide battle although Texas A&M and the aforementioned Auburn Tigers hang around. A fresh new contract for Ed Orgeron won't hurt his pitch of coaching staff stability following the volume of program turnover of late.
6. Alabama is first in line behind Clemson in the rankings and it is hosting one of its top senior targets, Ennis Rakestraw, for an official visit in conjunction with a massive junior day. The red-hot defensive back recruit out of Texas is planning a signing day decision with the Crimson Tide facing off against his two other expected official visit destinations this month in Texas and Missouri. Nick Saban spent time with Rakestraw this week before his scheduled trip to Tuscaloosa.
7. Ole Miss will follow up a weekend in which it landed big names like Demon Clowney and Henry Parrish with another solid slate of visitors. Big Florida wide receiver commitment Leonard Manuel, who won't sign until April 1, is expected in town as the Rebels position to play as the top threat to the Gators. Former Arkansas commitment and one of the fastest defensive backs in the South Mike Harris, who can play safety or corner, will be in town as will Vanderbilt defensive back pledge Donovan Kaufman. The Louisiana native was at Florida State last weekend but told SI All-American "I love Vandy, I'm still committed at the end of the day and that's for a reason."
8. All eyes are on Auburn for next weekend's big official visitor in Jones, but getting some pledges on campus while junior college target Deandre Butler is in town could be worth watching. AU is looking at the Georgia native to join the defensive front and make an immediate impact, especially if they miss out on top available interior defender McKinnley Jackson. Butler added a new offer from Tennessee on Thursday.
9. Every year Stanford build up into a massive official visit weekend and for the 2020 cycle, this weekend is it. It seems as if every signee and verbal commitment for David Shaw's program is expected to take in Palo Alto but so are a couple notable targets in Utah defensive end Scotty Edwards as well as Virginia offensive tackle talent James Pogorelc. Landing either would probably solidify the Cardinal with a top 25 recruiting class.
10. Texas is looking at closing the recruiting gap between it and Oklahoma down the stretch and one of the almost-expected additions to the class is taking his trip this weekend. Carthage (Texas) athlete Kelvontay Dixon, the brother of UT starting running back Keontay Ingram, is a versatile offensive weapon who could line up at wide receiver or running back at the next level. It would be a mild surprise if he did that anywhere but UT.
Bonus: Will Zach Evans show up at Tennessee? Florida? Georgia? The elite running back, whose MVP Performance at the Under Armour All-America Game was overshadowed by an unconventional recruiting move, has several suitors down the stretch and the chatter around his name will only increase over the next two weeks.
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