Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 2
Headlined by an Oregon-Michigan State matchup that may feature more than 300 recruits in attendance, according to Matt Dorsey for the Detroit Free Press, Week 2 of the college football season includes intriguing campus visits across the country.
Top talents such as linebacker Lyndell "Mack" Wilson and quarterback Davis Mills are among prospects on the move this weekend. Here's a preview of those visits and others that could impact high-profile recruitments in the 2016 cycle and beyond.
Florida State: 4-Star CB Trayvon Mullen
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Class: 2016
High School: Coconut Creek (Pompano Beach, Florida)
Size: 6'1 ½", 172 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 4 cornerback; No. 43 overall
Florida State welcomed a pair of 5-star defensive backs to campus in its 2015 freshman class and already claims a commitment from top-ranked 2016 cornerback Levonta Taylor. Now Trayvon Mullen, arguably the Sunshine State's top overall defender, heads to Tallahassee with the Seminoles squarely in the mix for his recruitment.
Mullen's maintained interest in the team is matched by only a few other schools. Clemson, Auburn, TCU and LSU—his 247Sports' Crystal Ball leader at 66 percent—are among alternative opportunities he's expressed excitement about in past months.
Florida State's underclassmen depth chart in the defensive backfield would rival any in America next season with Mullen on board.
“Florida State is Florida State,” Coconut Creek High School head coach Kareem Reid told Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat. “They’ve always had a history of good secondary play. And it’s a school that [Mullen] really likes. It’s going to be tough to say no to them if he doesn’t decide to go there.”
Michigan State: 4-Star OL E.J. Price
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Class: 2016
High School: Archer (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
Size: 6'6", 311 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 7 offensive tackle; No. 50 overall
E.J. Price, a prized commodity in SEC country heads north to join the frenzied game-day atmosphere in East Lansing. Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia are among the programs attempting to keep him home, while the Michigan Wolverines have also been in the mix during his recruitment.
He initially pledged to the in-state Bulldogs but backed off that verbal commitment in June. Price isn't likely to announce another college decision anytime soon and may be inclined to take all five official visits.
Michigan State's matchup with Oregon presents a perfect opportunity to showcase the stadium and university for an out-of-state stud. Price projects as a potential plug-and-play talent at right tackle.
Auburn: 5-Star LB Lyndell Wilson
3 of 7Class: 2016
High School: Carver (Montgomery, Alabama)
Size: 6'2", 220 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 outside linebacker; No. 10 overall
Auburn landed a commitment from 5-star defensive end Marlon Davidson last Friday and now welcomes him to campus along with close friend Lyndell "Mack" Wilson. The nation's top-rated linebacker represents another monumental in-state priority for the Tigers, who still face competition from SEC rival Alabama.
Wilson, who burst onto the national scene as a sophomore with 71 tackles, seven sacks and five forced fumbles, played with Davidson at Carver High School last season. Fellow 5-star linebacker Ben Davis told Bleacher Report he and Wilson are a "package deal," referring to them and Davidson as "The Trio."
Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and his staff are within striking distance of pulling off an immensely successful national signing day if the group teams up as Tigers. Linebackers coach Lance Thompson previously recruited Wilson when he was on the Crimson Tide staff, so an established rapport is in place.
Michigan: 4-Star QB Davis Mills
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Class: 2017
High School: Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, Georgia)
Size: 6'3", 189 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 5 pro-style quarterback; No. 88 overall
Jim Harbaugh searches for his first victory as head coach at Michigan when the Wolverines host Oregon State, and one of his top quarterback targets is expected to attend. Peach State passer Davis Mills will make the trip to Ann Arbor, per Gerry Hamilton of ESPN.
Mills, who received a Michigan offer in August, and Colorado quarterback Dylan McCaffrey may be Michigan's most important targets at the position in the 2017 recruiting cycle. Both players are strongly considering Stanford, while Mills also holds scholarship offers from Miami, Arkansas, UCLA and others.
Mills threw for 2,267 yards and 26 touchdowns last season as a sophomore. An early up-close look at the Wolverines could set the stage for future visits.
Ohio State: 4-Star DT Antwuan Jackson
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Class: 2016
High School: Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Georgia)
Size: 6'2 ½", 285 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 9 defensive tackle; No. 54 overall
The reigning national champions return home for what should be a boisterous environment in Columbus. Dominant defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson will be on location for the Buckeyes game against Hawaii, his second trip to the university since July, as Northeast Ohio Media Group's Ari Wasserman noted.
Ohio State is already stacked up front in its 2016 recruiting class, claiming commitments from 5-star defensive linemen Jonathan Cooper and Nick Bosa. Jackson, one of the southeast's most impressive interior talents, would fit in nicely with a group that could wreak havoc for years to come.
Aside from the Buckeyes, Auburn and Georgia also loom large in his recruitment.
Florida State: 4-Star CB Stanford Samuels III
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Class: 2017
High School: Charles W. Flanagan (Holywood, Florida)
Size: 6'2", 175 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 5 cornerback; No. 40 overall
We mentioned earlier the possibility of top-tier 2016 cornerback Trayvon Mullen making an impact in a star-studded Seminoles secondary. Stanford Samuels III, a high school junior, is also a possible piece of the puzzle moving forward.
The son of former Florida State standout Stanford Samuels Jr., he is viewed as a likely legacy pickup for head coach Jimbo Fisher. His latest visit to Tallahassee allows Seminoles coaches to further fortify a strong relationship with the coveted cornerback.
Florida State carries 100 percent of experts' predictions in the 247Sports Crystal Ball. It's also worth keeping an eye on Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina in this race.
Michigan State: 4-Star WR Donnie Corley
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Class: 2016
High School: Martin Luther King (Detroit, Michigan)
Size: 6'2 ½", 182 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 19 wide receiver; No. 121 overall
Longstanding speculation about Donnie Corley's eventual commitment to Michigan may be near a conclusion. The local playmaker is projected to sign with the Spartans by 85 percent of experts' predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball.
Michigan State's 2016 class currently includes a pair of 4-star wide receivers (Justin Layne and Cameron Chambers) and Elite 11 quarterback finalist Messiah deWeaver, who specifically mentioned Corley as a primary target this summer. The MLK High School standout caught 47 passes for 1,087 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2014.
He would further enhance a position of strength in East Lansing and represent a pivotal in-state recruiting victory for the Spartans. Corley could also help lure high school teammate and Penn State pledge Lavert Hill, a 4-star defensive back.
His other collegiate interests include Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Tennessee.
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