Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 14

The college football recruiting landscape has undergone seismic shifts this week, as coaching changes continue to alter future outlooks for several FBS programs. Despite an abundance of uncertainty, head coaches and assistants have spent time racking up frequent-flyer miles while visiting prospects across the country.

Less than nine weeks away from national signing day, every in-home and campus visit carries greater significance. The regular season has wrapped up for many teams and conference championship matchups take center stage this weekend.

This recruiting cycle now begins to move away from game-day visits, putting the pressure on staffs to showcase campus life, football facilities and academic resources more than stadium atmosphere. Here's a look at five key prospect visits that take precedence this week.

Florida: 5-Star QB Jacob Eason

Credit: 247Sports

Class: 2016

High School: Lake Stevens (Lake Stevens, Washington)

Size: 6'5", 205 lbs

Composite Ranking: No. 2 pro-style quarterback; No. 5 overall

The recruitment of longtime Georgia Bulldogs blue-chip quarterback commit Jacob Eason is quickly evolving. He took immediate action in the aftermath of head coach Mark Richt's announced departure from Georgia, traveling to Gainesville less than 48 hours later.

We typically highlight game-day visits in this weekly rundown, but Eason's mid-week, cross-country journey highlights how things have advanced during a short span. Pledged to Georgia since July 2014, he's had an opportunity to observe how first-year Gators coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier operate leading up to an SEC championship matchup with Alabama.

Florida, which failed to sign a scholarship passer in the 2015 recruiting cycle and won't have former starter Will Grier back from suspension until next October, is fresh off landing former LSU quarterback commit Feleipe Franks. The fellow Elite 11 finalist announced his intentions on Sunday but seemed significantly less enthused two days later when asked how he felt regarding Eason's trip to The Swamp.

“Not good,” Franks told Chris Kirschner of SEC Country.

Eason, a U.S. Army All-American Player of the Year finalist, led Lake Stevens to Washington state semifinals this fall. He completed 70 percent of pass attempts, per MaxPreps, totaling 3,585 yards, 43 touchdowns and six interceptions. 

Baylor: 4-Star DE Amani Bledsoe

Credit: 247Sports

Class: 2016

High School: Lawrence (Lawrence, Kansas)

Size: 6'5", 270 lbs.

Composite Ranking: No. 10 strong-side defensive end; No. 220 overall

The Baylor Bears have made a late push for one of the Midwest's premier defenders. Head coach Art Briles and his staff effectively caught Amani Bledsoe's attention recently and welcome him to Waco this weekend.

“It was kind of a later offer,” Bledsoe told Colt Barber of 247Sports. “They offered me the day before my first playoff game and that’s when I kind of started talking to them.”

Oklahoma is projected to sign the disruptive lineman by 78 percent of experts' predictions in Bledesoe's 247Sports Crystal Ball, while USC, Oregon, Kansas and UCLA are among other options on the table. He recorded 82 tackles, eight sacks and three blocked punts as a senior, according to Nick McCabe of 810Varsity.com.

This weekend will provide evidence of whether Baylor is a possible landing spot.

“I don’t really have much insight on Baylor and I haven’t really had much of a chance to research them at all,” Bledsoe told Barber. "I’m just hoping to get as much information as I can while I take this visit. See everything they are about see if it could be my potential signing school.”

Tennessee: 4-Star CB Lavert Hill

Credit: 247Sports

Class: 2016

High School: Martin Luther King (Detroit, Michigan)

Size: 5'11", 175 lbs.

Composite Ranking: No. 11 cornerback; No. 136 overall

A week after decommitting from Penn State, coveted defensive back Lavert Hill will head to Knoxville, according to Sean Scherer of 247Sports. He ended a 10-month pledge to the Nittany Lions last weekend, putting a premier prospect back in play for the final push toward signing day.

Hill, who helped his high school squad secure a Michigan state title Nov. 27, collected scholarship offers from West Virginia, UCLA, Michigan State, Georgia and Texas, among others, during his Penn State commitment. He's spent significant time at Michigan throughout this recruitment, and the Wolverines now lead his 247Sports Crystal Ball with 81 percent of experts' predictions. 

He collected eight interceptions and 12 pass breakups this season, according to Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press, adding two kick return touchdowns and five receiving scores. High school teammate Donnie Corley, a 4-star wide receiver and U.S. Army All-American Player of the Year finalist, has also expressed legitimate interest toward the Volunteers.

Arkansas: 3-Star DE Keir Thomas

Credit: 247Sports

Class: 2016

High School: Miami Central (Miami, Florida)

Size: 6'2", 249 lbs.

Composite Ranking: No. 20 strong-side defensive end; No. 391 overall

Former Florida State commit Keir Thomas takes another journey into SEC territory. He spent time at Tennessee and Auburn in November and is expected to arrive in Fayetteville on Saturday morning, according to Richard Davenport of the Arkansas Democrat‑Gazette.

Thomas, a relentless pass-rusher off the edge, initially pledged to the Seminoles in February. He backed off that decision last month, sensing Florida State's staff was no longer fully invested.

“I feel like FSU doesn’t want me anymore,” Thomas told Josh Newberg of 247Sports days before his decommitment. “I don’t hear from them at all unless [assistant coach] Tim Brewster down or something like that. They never call or text.”

Clearly Thomas reached a tipping point and opted to move on with the recruiting process. Auburn is now favored to sign him by 91 percent of experts' predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball.

He emerged as a major defensive force in 2014, securing 71 tackles and 18 sacks. The Razorbacks aim to pair him with elite in-state defensive end McTelvin Agim, who was named Arkansas' Gatorade Player of the Year this week.

TCU: 4-Star OT Willie Allen

Credit: 247Sports

Class: 2016

High School: John Curtis (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Size: 6'7 ½", 300 lbs.

Composite Ranking: No. 10 offensive tackle; No. 85 overall

Willie Allen whittled an expansive offer list down to five universities in November. He identified Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and TCU as teams to beat during a discussion with Andrew Lopez of the Times-Picayune.

Allen isn't likely to announce collegiate intentions until national signing day, according to Lopez, and will use an official visit at in-state LSU in January. The Tigers, now moving forward with head coach Les Miles, carry 58 percent of experts' predictions in his 247Sports' Crystal Ball.

TCU will welcome him to campus this weekend, according to Jeremy Clark of 247Sports. The Horned Frogs are Allen's only non-SEC contender and could potentially utilize him as a plug-and-play talent along the offensive line next season.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Tyler via Twitter @TDsTake.