Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 3
The 2015 college football season rolls into Week 3, presenting another opportunity for coaches to showcase their programs in front of coveted high school prospects.
Recruits across America are on the move again, spending Saturday at various universities. An epic showdown between LSU and Auburn highlights expansive action, as big-time targets Stephen Sullivan and Dylan Moses are among multiple premier players expected to attend the SEC battle in Baton Rouge.
These latest campus trips may not make an immediate impact on the outcome of recruitments, but they will undoubtedly be a factor when commitment decisions are determined down the road. Here's a look at eight upcoming recruiting visits to monitor closely this weekend.
LSU: 4-Star WR Stephen Sullivan
1 of 8
Class: 2016
High School: Donaldsonville (Donaldsonville, Louisiana)
Size: 6'5", 230 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 12 wide receiver; No. 86 overall
This is a reunion of sorts for Stephen Sullivan, who initially committed to the Tigers as a sophomore. The rangy receiver backed off that verbal pledge in August, entering his final high school season with a fresh start.
"LSU is a great school and I love everything about it," he posted on Instagram. "The LSU coaching staff treats me like family, that's what I love about it. But this is one of the biggest decisions of my life, and I want to make sure it's the right decision for me and only me."
Sullivan landed scholarship offers from Nebraska, Tennessee and Florida State shortly after the announcement. He is expected to spend an official visit in Tallahassee next month. This trip to Baton Rouge presents an opportunity for the Tigers coaching staff to remind him why he chose LSU in the first place.
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and first-year wide receivers coach Tony Ball would love to bring him back into a class that includes Elite 11 quarterback finalist Feleipe Franks. Sullivan caught 57 passes last season, resulting in 987 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Georgia: 4-Star RB Devwah Whaley
2 of 8
Class: 2016
High School: Central Senior (Beaumont, Texas)
Size: 6'0", 205 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 4 running back; No. 135 overall
Despite a recent commitment from fellow 4-star rusher Elijah Holyfield, Georgia remains a legitimate potential landing spot for Lone Star State playmaker Devwah Whaley. The Bulldogs signed a pair of 5-star prospects at the position in 2014 (Sony Michel and Nick Chubb) and would love to land a similarly dynamic duo on national signing day.
Whaley, who rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 scores as a junior, is a well-balanced back who already possesses an imposing physical frame suited for collegiate demands. He averaged more than seven yards per carry during the past two campaigns.
"A lot of schools find me to be a complete back," Whaley told Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles. "I'm able to run and catch the ball. I like to block. I'm just a downhill type of back who plays with size and power."
In addition to Georgia, he included Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M in a top-five list this summer. The Aggies and Sooners seem to be strong contenders here, splitting all experts' commitment predictions in his 247Sports Crystal Ball.
Oregon: 4-Star CB Nigel Knott
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Class: 2016
High School: Germantown (Madison, Mississippi)
Size: 5'11", 175 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 4 cornerback; No. 44 overall
Nigel Knott, known for his back-flip exploits on and off the field, makes Eugene the final stop before a commitment. He'll watch the Ducks host Georgia State just four days shy of an announcement ceremony, which coincides with his Sept. 23 Under Armour All-American jersey presentation.
Considered one of the most impressive athletes in this recruiting cycle, Knott is an accomplished defender who brings versatility to the back end of a defensive attack. He registered 112 tackles last season, adding four interception and 16 pass breakups.
Mississippi State, LSU and Alabama are just a few of the SEC teams hoping he stays close to home in college. Knott, who completed the 40-yard dash in 4.30 seconds this summer at The Opening, would add to an Oregon class that already includes 4-star Texas cornerback Jared Mayden.
Ducks secondary coach John Neal has done an excellent job landing and developing talented defensive backs during a lengthy tenure. His latest out-of-state target offers immediate-impact potential and world-class athleticsm.
Alabama: 4-Star DE Terrell Hall
4 of 8
Class: 2016
High School: St. John's College (Washington, D.C.)
Size: 6'5", 250 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 8 weak-side defensive end; No. 101 overall
A recruitment that once seemed wrapped up quickly became much more intriguing in early August, when Terrell Hall ended a five-month commitment to Ohio State. Though the Buckeyes now carry two 5-star commitments at defensive end—Nick Bosa and Jonathon Cooper—he remains interested in the program but is excited to explore alternative options.
"I started to think about the possibility of playing positions other than a 4-3 defensive end," he told Bleacher Report. "I like how Alabama sees me as a 3-4 outside linebacker who can still play some defensive end. It also gives me an opportunity to drop back in pass coverage and show off my athleticism. That versatility is attractive to NFL teams."
Hall, who tallied 19 tackles for loss last season, is now seen as a Crimson Tide lean. Alabama warrants 76 percent of experts' predictions in 247Sports his 247Sports Crystal Ball.
This trip to Tuscaloosa is Hall's second since July and could put Alabama firmly in the driver's seat for his pledge. Other contenders include Ole Miss, Maryland and Texas A&M.
Washington: 4-Star DE Isaiah Chambers
5 of 8
Class: 2016
High School: Aldine MacArthur (Houston, Texas)
Size: 6'3 ½", 258 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 6 strong-side defensive end; No. 98 overall
Isaiah Chambers heads far beyond his home turf to see the Huskies host Utah State. The prized pass-rusher is expected to visit Pac-12 rival Arizona State later this season, though in-state universities take center stage in his recruitment.
Baylor, Houston, TCU, Texas and Texas A&M each appeared on a top-10 list he released this summer. Chambers traveled to College Station last weekend, watching the Aggies defeat Ball State in emphatic fashion.
He is a feared defender off the edge and a coveted recruit.
"I think it's possible to get 28 or 30 [sacks]," Chambers told Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles. "I know [Jadeveon] Clowney had a lot his senior year, so why not?"
LSU: 5-Star LB Dylan Moses
6 of 8Class: 2017
High School: University Lab (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Size: 6'2", 220 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 outside linebacker; No. 1 overall
Dylan Moses, a hometown kid, isn't particularly likely to encounter anything new during his latest visit to LSU. Still, it's a big deal to have this scintillating high school junior in attendance for a key SEC clash with Auburn.
Moses, who committed to LSU early in his freshman season, reopened a frenzied recruitment this summer. It was a major development for a prospect who appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine before his first varsity tackle and has drawn comparisons to past prodigious talents such as Bo Jackson.
Alabama, Texas and Florida State are just a few of the programs that would love to gain ground in this pursuit. Moses recorded more than 300 total tackles as an underclassman and also impressed at running back.
He played on both sides of the ball this summer as a rare early invitee at The Opening, a premier prospect showcase held in Oregon. Moses will always be front and center for LSU's 2017 recruiting efforts, and this latest visit is a potential step toward reestablishing his pledge to the program.
Arkansas: 4-Star WR Isaiah Graham
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Class: 2016
High School: Bastrop (Bastrop, Louisiana)
Size: 6'1", 180 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 44 wide receiver; No. 232 overall
Arkansas suffered a late recruiting loss last cycle, watching top in-state wide receiver target K.J. Hill decommit and eventually sign with Ohio State. The Razorbacks have improved along the offensive depth chart since a new coaching regime took over, but there is still plenty of work to be done in order to rise up SEC standings.
Isaiah Graham is a potential piece of that puzzle moving ahead, as he's strongly considering Arkansas in a group of contenders that also includes TCU, Miami, South Carolina and Tennessee. The possibility of immediate reps is a considerable factor pulling him toward Fayetteville.
"Wide receiver coach [Mike] Smith and I have a great relationship," Graham told Amos Morale III of NOLA.com. "They need receivers, I feel like I can go there and play early."
He erupted for 1,138 yards and 20 touchdowns on just 48 receptions as a junior. Graham caught 11 passes for 148 yards during the first two games this season, per MaxPreps.
Miami: 5-Star ATH Mecole Hardman
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Class: 2016
High School: Elbert County (Elberton, Georgia)
Size: 5'10", 175 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 athlete; No. 22 overall
You'll be hard-pressed to identify a more impressive physical specimen in the 2016 recruiting class than two-way Peach State standout Mecole Hardman. Miami is enjoying an excellent cycle despite consistent swirling uncertainty surrounding the status of head coach Al Golden.
The Hurricanes are set to host Hardman for a matchup against Nebraska. This game should reveal plenty about the program's current state, potentially pushing Miami further into the mix for this sensational talent.
"The first time I went down there, it was just for a day so I saw the campus," Hardman told Nate Adelson of 247Sports. "Now I'm going back to get a better feel for everything build stronger relationships with the coaches. They're a school I'm considering so I want to see if I get the right vibe or not."
Hardman is a serious weapon on special teams as a kick returner and could fight for an immediate role at cornerback or wide receiver. He scored five touchdowns in his most recent contest, highlighted by a game-winner with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
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