Rivals Roundtable: Highlight on weekend visits
Our nationwide recruiting analysts weigh in on among the most necessary recruiting visits on faucet this weekend.
RELATED: The highest 15 visits this weekend
COMMITMENT PREDICTIONS: Midwest prospects | Southeast prospects | Mid-South | Florida | West | Northeast
1. What’s the largest recruiting go to of the weekend?
John Garcia Jr.: Julian Lewis returning to USC. A dedication returning to this system he has been pledged to for greater than 13 months is not essentially the most interesting on paper, however when it is doubtlessly the subsequent nice Lincoln Riley quarterback when different packages nonetheless need in on him – it simply means extra. Lewis has been a busy recruit because the offseason, trying out USC along with Colorado, Auburn, Indiana and different locations, although he has stated all the correct issues about remaining on board with the Trojans regardless of the journeys. At the same time as Auburn has crammed out its QB spot with Deuce Knight flipping from Notre Dame, the Colorado hype, momentum and theoretical path to taking part in time following the Shedeur Sanders period combines for fairly the menace for Riley’s maintain on Lewis. Shoot, Indiana is taking part in much more environment friendly offensively than Coach Prime’s squad and Lewis’ rapport with assistant Tino Sunseri is effectively documented. Each packages seem as a stronger on-field menace to lure Lewis away from USC than many would have in any other case thought-about coming into the 2024 season.
Adam Gorney: There are some enormous ones this weekend however I will go together with a late addition of Alabama four-star WR commit Caleb Cunningham going to LSU. After Cunningham was at Alabama’s win over Georgia it appeared like he is perhaps completed with recruiting, wrap it up, shut it down and signal with the Crimson Tide that night time. However he has all the time had a major curiosity in LSU and Ole Miss – the in-state energy – can also be not giving up on him. It nonetheless sounds just like the Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County standout is locked in closely with the Crimson Tide however that atmosphere in Baton Rouge might be superior and will give the star receiver one thing to contemplate.
Marshall Levenson: There are many worthy candidates for an important go to of the weekend, however I am going to go together with the highest-ranked uncommitted participant within the class of 2025. 5-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart is now formally within the 2025 cycle and might be taking his first official go to. Oregon will not be thought-about to be the chief, however the Geese are set to have their largest gameday atmosphere, doubtlessly in program historical past, internet hosting the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. The truth that it marks his first official go to definitely makes it vital. The Geese are main NIL gamers and with a powerful class already dedicated, they are going to be working to do what it takes to get Stewart within the fold.
Greg Smith: Jahkeem Stewart to Oregon. Each time the celebrity defensive lineman takes a go to it’s been large information. Nevertheless, now that he’s formally reclassified to the 2025 class these visits have much more significance. His first go to after the information goes to Oregon which has all the time been a darkish horse in his recruitment. Ohio State can also be closely concerned within the recruitment so he will get to see each packages on the sector. The Geese have floor to make up right here however you’ll be able to by no means depend out Dan Lanning.
Sam Spiegelman: Elijah Griffin to UGA. Griffin is making his return to Athens this weekend, which coincides with the five-star defensive lineman’s birthday. Extra importantly, it match his mom’s schedule. Griffin made official visits to each Miami and USC over the summer time. He is caught the Dawgs within the opener in Atlanta. As he strikes nearer and nearer towards a choice, which he definitely is, Griffin would really like his mom, little sister, grandmother and different members of his speedy household to see Georgia, which has already been trending in the correct path with the top-10 recruit for a number of months.
2. Which program has essentially the most on the road in entrance of official guests at the moment?
John Garcia Jr.: Oregon with Ohio State on the town. Positive this can be a top-five showdown that wants not one other ounce of hype, nevertheless it’s the primary Huge Ten model of this rivalry between the pair of favorites within the convention at this stage of the season. As per normal, Oregon is about to take benefit with a number of five-stars descending on Eugene similar to cornerback Na’eem Offord and defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, amongst others. The Geese do not recruit a lot domestically, so nationally-relevant video games like this in that sort of environment are among the many greatest promoting factors for Dan Lanning and firm on a nationwide scale. Ought to UO proceed to function among the many premier packages within the nation, it should dip extra into Texas, the normal SEC footprint in addition to the traditional Huge Ten footprint to maintain the roster towards the highest of the game. Displaying as a lot in opposition to maybe one of the best roster within the nation and/or nationwide title favourite Ohio State would absolutely go a good distance towards confirming long-term plans for the Geese to stay within the combine among the many best possible no matter their convention affiliation.
Adam Gorney: Oregon has an enormous weekend right here. Not solely are the Geese taking part in in arguably the most important recreation of the weekend, on primetime, internet hosting Ohio State, it is a assertion recreation for Oregon within the Huge Ten and there are going to be tons of prime recruits in Autzen Stadium. A lot of who’re additionally contemplating Ohio State. Commits Trey McNutt and Dorian Brew might be there. Ohio State commit Na’eem Offord might be there. Prime 2026 prospects Kendre Harrison, who’s contemplating each the Geese and the Buckeyes, might be there. It is a enormous alternative for coach Dan Lanning and all the program. It is also large for Ohio State for all the identical causes.
Marshall Levenson: There may be not a much bigger recreation within the nation than Oregon vs. Ohio State which is of course bringing a star-studded group to city. There might be large fish of each type in attendance, starting from 2025 uncommitted targets, 2025 flop targets, and down into the underclassmen, internet hosting some premier 2026 and 2027 expertise. Their highest-rated commit in Dakorien Moore might be making the cross-country trek Saturday morning and alongside many different commits will do his greatest to realize the curiosity of prospects similar to five-star Jahkeem Stewart, five-star Ohio State commit Na’eem Offord and 2026 elite four-star Kendre Harrison. Additionally, 2025 Baylor three-star linebacker commit Kaleb Burns is one other sneaky title to control as he might be taking an official go to. A win for the Geese would absolutely vault them to No. 1 within the nation within the polls and would give their already sturdy recruiting efforts an enormous enhance.
Greg Smith: There are some very intriguing go to weekends occurring across the nation. Tennessee, USC and Oklahoma all deserve a shout-out however the reply is Oregon for me. This system has the majority of its commits coming to city which helps with retention. However there’s a potential five-star flip candidate on campus – defensive again Na’eem Offord – to control. 5-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart might be on the town. There may be additionally elite future expertise similar to 2027 TE Mark Bowman taking within the recreation. It’s going to be an enormous weekend in Eugene.
Sam Spiegelman: USC. The Trojans have hit the Southeast with conviction below this new defensive workers. This weekend, USC will purpose to take an enormous leap ahead by bringing in not solely five-star QB commit Julian Lewis and Rivals250 CB commit Shamar Arnoux again for the Penn State recreation, however four-star DL goal Kevin Wynn dedicated to Florida State. Moreover, a number of of the area’s prime 2026 prospects as effectively. Among the many notable blue-chippers anticipated within the Coliseum embody five-star LB Tyler Atkinson and four-star DL Deuce Geralds, four-star LB Ant Davis, four-star DL Bryce Perry-Wright, four-star ATH Tyriq Inexperienced and four-star DB Nassir McCoy, and the Trojans are proper within the thick of it with a handful of these targets.
