College Football's Most Important Offers of the Week

At this point last week, Prince Tega Junior was an unknown on the recruiting circuit.

However, beginning last Monday, Junior’s offer list went from, as Drake would say, “zero to 100 real quick."

Well, not exactly 100, but he did land 14 offers in a two-day span—including at least one school from each of the Power Five conferences, according to Scout’s John Garcia Jr.

The offer spree for the 6’8”, 250-pound defensive end from Edgewood Academy in Elmore, Alabama began with an offer from Kentucky, as noted by Josh Edwards of CatsPause.

Fellow SEC members LSU, Vanderbilt and Tennessee followed suit.

Powers such as Texas, Oregon and Ohio State highlighted the powers who jumped into the race for the nation’s hottest recruit.

As Garcia notes, Junior is an exchange student from Nigeria who began playing football only four months ago.

“I actually came here in August, I didn’t know anything about football, but I’d see it,” Junior told Garcia. “The coaches saw me and I wanted to try it. I’m very glad, I’m very happy for that because when I first started playing football I didn’t expect so much.”

He's now rated as a 4-star prospect and the No. 6 strong-side defensive end in the country.

Given the wave of new interest in Junior, expect the rest of the nation’s powers to follow suit in offering the hulking pass-rushing prospect.

USA TODAY Sports

UGA, Georgia Tech After 2015 Vanderbilt Commit

It’s been a struggle for Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason since he arrived in Nashville.

However, in 4-star linebacker pledge Josh Smith, the Commodores have a player that ranks among the nation’s top 10 prospects at his position. 

However, per Woody Wommack of Rivals, Georgia offered the 6’4”, 218-pounder on Dec. 17.

The Dawgs' in-state rivals, Georgia Tech, also pulled the trigger in tendering Smith, per Barton Simmons of 247Sports. 

The main way for Mason to build the Commodores back into a contender is to get it done on the recruiting trail, which makes holding onto talents such as Smith a must.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Alabama Offers 2016 DE

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide are well on their way toward capturing another recruiting national title, but he and his staff are already in hot pursuit of top juniors.

One player who netted an offer from Saban is 4-star defensive end Emmit Gooden:

The 6’3”, 269-pounder ranks as the nation’s No. 9 defensive end and the No. 117 player overall in the 2016 class.

The Tide join SEC powers such as LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Ole Miss who are actively pursuing one of the top players from the state of Tennessee.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Texas A&M after 2016 California DE

Another junior pass-rusher drawing interest from some of the nation’s top powers is 4-star California defensive end Oluwole Betiku.

According to Adam Gorney of Rivals, Texas A&M is the newest offer for the 6’3”, 245-pounder:

The Aggies join recruiting giants such as Florida State, Notre Dame and USC as schools who have offered Betiku since November.

Given that Kevin Sumlin and his staff are in strong position to pull their third consecutive top-10 class, offers like the one to Betiku show that the Aggies are beginning recruit on a national basis.

Best of the Rest 

• Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports reports that Notre Dame offered 2015 3-star safety Mykelti Williams, who subsequently jumped on the offer and became the 22nd commitment in the 2015 class for the Irish.

• Oklahoma offered 2015 3-star linebacker Fotu Leiato, per Gorney. 

• Scout’s Greg Biggins reports that Oregon has offered 2015 3-star linebacker and current UCLA commit Josh Woods.

• Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Auburn offered 2015 3-star tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe—who committed to Florida last week.

• Florida offered 2015 3-star defensive end Quandeski Whitlow, who is currently committed to South Carolina.

• 2015 tight end Foster Moreau earned an offer from LSU.

• Arizona State offered JUCO offensive lineman Jaypee Philbert.

• Oklahoma State is the newest offer for 2015 2-star wide receiver Xavier Castille.

• Per Josh Newberg of Noles247, UCLA offered 2015 4-star wide receiver Ryan Davis.

• Texas Tech is the newest offer for 2016 5-star corner Levonta Taylor.

• 2016 5-star running back Kareem Walker picked up an offer from Oregon. The Ducks also offered 2016 tight end Cameron McCormick.

• 2016 4-star defensive end Janarius Robinson, who is committed to Florida State, picked up an offer from USC. 

• 2016 4-star linebacker Jaleel Laguins was offered by Nebraska. The Huskers also offered 2016 5-star linebacker Ben Davis, according to Andrew Bone of Rivals.

• Georgia Tech tendered 2016 4-star corner Mecole Hardman.

• 2016 4-star all-purpose back Damian Alloway earned an offer from Duke.

• According to Mike Farrell of Rivals, North Carolina offered 2016 4-star defensive end Ron Johnson. The Tar Heels also offered 2016 linebacker Cameron Brown.

• Per Ryan Bartow of 247Sports, 2016 3-star running back Deon McIntosh picked up offers from Maryland, Rutgers, Florida A&M and Cincinnati.

• Illinois and Vanderbilt are the newest offers for 2016 3-star running back Tony Jones, Jr.

• 2016 3-star corner Dylan Singleton picked up an offer from Georgia, according to Rusty Mansell of Dawgs247 (subscription required).

• Nebraska offered 2017 athlete Jeffrey Okudah.

• 2017 4-star safety Isaiah Pryor earned an offer from Georgia Tech.

• Arizona State offered 2017 wide receiver Connor Heyward.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.