6 Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 9

We've suddenly reached the second half of this college football campaign, and postseason bids aren't the only things still hanging in the balance. Recruiting efforts for the 2015 class continue to heat up with each passing week.

Top prospects who are approaching final commitment decisions are on the move yet again in coming days, traveling to campuses across the country. As usual, we examine the visits you need to know about before they happen.

Here's a look at members of the latest VIP recruiting guest list.

Penn State: 4-Star OL Matthew Burrell (Woodbridge, Virginia)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 96 overall, No. 5 among offensive guards

High School Success

The 6'5", 302-pound C.D. Hylton High School standout was an All-Met selection by The Washington Post in 2013. Matthew Burrell also earned an invitation to The Opening, an elite prospect showcase held in July at Nike's world headquarters, where he handled himself well against America's premier defensive linemen. 

His reach and versatility give collegiate coaching staffs options for how they'd prefer to implement him. Though Burrell seems best-suited for a career along the interior, he could be asked to anchor a tackle position if necessary. 

Recruitment Status

He's been a diligent researcher throughout this process, spending time at several campuses in various regions. This week is a perfect example, as Burrell will spend Thursday evening at Virginia Tech to watch the Hokies host Miami before heading to Happy Valley on Friday.

His trip to Penn State is also noteworthy for Ohio State, the Nittany Lions' opponent Saturday. Burrell journeyed to Columbus earlier this season and has the Buckeyes on his short list.

A pair of Sunshine State squads also remain in the mix. He already spent an official visit at Florida State and is scheduled to do the same at Florida in November.

Tennessee: 4-Star OL Drew Richmond (Memphis, Tennessee)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 93 overall, No. 7 among offensive tackles

High School Success

Drew Richmond spearheads a Memphis University High School offensive attack that produces more than 200 rushing yards per game, per MaxPreps. He's a mauler on the outside edge who keeps pass-rushers in check with quick footwork. 

The 6'5", 320-pound prospect punishes opponents with impressive raw power. Richmond has room to fill out from a physical standpoint and possesses excellent athleticism that allows him to deal with speedy blitzers, though he is at his best when bulldozing through opponents to open rushing lanes. 

Recruitment Status

Richmond continues to survey the situation in Knoxville, where the Volunteers have long clamored for his commitment. He pledged to Ole Miss in September but has since visited Tennessee twice. 

Butch Jones has built a quality foundation by keeping local prospects at home, and he'd hate to lose a player of this caliber to a conference foe. Ohio State also remains in the picture to potentially flip Richmond from his Ole Miss pact.

TCU: 4-Star WR Carlos Strickland (Dallas, Texas)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 138 overall, No. 15 among wide receivers

High School Success

Carlos Strickland led perennial postseason contender Dallas Skyline High School in every statistical receiving category during a breakout junior campaign. He averaged 20 yards per reception and finished 2013 with 10 touchdown grabs.

His ability to get downfield in a hurry is augmented by elite size. The 6'5", 194-pound playmaker can make defensive backs look foolish with his reach and provides a valuable target for quarterbacks in pivotal situations.

Recruitment Status

He holds offers from a variety of programs but trimmed down those options earlier this year. Strickland is focused on four finalists—TCU, Texas, Tech, UCLA and Cal—after eliminating teams like Miami and Wisconsin.

He is set to announce his commitment next month, putting the pressure on TCU to deliver a strong sales pitch. The Horned Frogs could make a major statement by securing a crucial in-state commitment.

Clemson: 4-Star 2016 DE Rahshaun Smith (Towson, Maryland)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 51 in 2016 class, No. 3 among weak-side defensive ends

High School Success

Clemson fans clamoring for the next Vic Beasley need to take a look at Rahshaun Smith. The  6'3", 225-pound defender is still growing, so it's hard to tell how big he will be when it's time to head off to college.

Regardless of his eventual size, he has the makings of a monstrous pass-rusher. Smith, a junior at St. Frances Academy known as "Shaq," is freakishly quick for his build and could ultimately end up playing outside linebacker at the next level depending on defensive scheme.

He made an immediate impression on college scouts after putting on pads for the first time in middle school. Smith received scholarship offers from Maryland and Boston College before his freshman season.

"To my knowledge, he has to be the first eighth-grader in the state of Maryland, that I've ever seen, to receive not only one but multiple scholarship offers [from Bowl Championship Series programs]," coach and mentor Cory Robinson told Cody Goodwin of The Baltimore Sun.

Recruitment Status

The offers have continued to come in bunches during Smith's high school career, creating a list that's dozens deep. He's been active on the recruiting trail this season, spending time at Penn State, Maryland and Oklahoma.

The Nittany Lions have hosted him on campus several times and seem to be in good shape with Smith.

"When they had coach [Bill] O'Brien it wasn't as strong as it is right now," he told Audrey Snyder of PennLive.com. "You know, some places you can just feel how they want you and you can feel how they feel about you, and Penn State is one of those schools where I can feel how they want me."

Clemson must also compete with the likes of Alabama, West Virginia and Florida State.

Stanford: 4-Star WR Trent Irwin (Newhall, California)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 97 overall, No. 9 among wide receivers

High School Success

Trent Irwin has enjoyed an illustrious career at Hart High School. The four-year starter serves as the primary target for Arizona State quarterback commit Brady White.

He caught 50 passes for 785 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman and has steadily built on those totals since. Through seven games this fall, Irwin leads Hart with 51 receptions for 996 yards and nine scores, per MaxPreps.

His career production is mighty impressive, sitting at 230 catches, 4,290 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns.

Recruitment Status

The 6'2", 190-pound prospect makes his long-awaited official visit to Stanford this weekend. The trip precedes a November official visit to Arizona State, and these two teams are viewed as top contenders.

White will continue to lobby Irwin on behalf of the Sun Devils. The duo could potentially do damage again together at the next level if they join forces in Tempe.

This recruitment ultimately appears to be a Pac-12 showdown, with UCLA and Oregon State also on his radar, but another program could potentially crash the party. Irwin told Ryan Batow of 247Sports that Texas Tech is likely to land a visit before any decision is reached. 

Tennessee: 4-Star WR Ryan Newsome (Aledo, Texas)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 227, No. 26 among wide receivers

High School Success

Ryan Newsome may be small in stature, but he's one of the most electric players in America. The 5'8", 168-pound Aledo High School tied a national record in 2013 by returning seven punts for touchdowns.

"Teams eventually stopped kicking to me," he told me this summer.

His skills shine beyond special teams, as Newsome ranks among the nation's purest slot receivers. Given his game-breaking quickness and open-field shiftiness, he's exactly the kind of weapon you want to get the ball to in space.

Recruitment Status

Newsome is still considering several teams and recently enjoyed an official visit at Ole Miss. He'll test out another SEC campus this weekend when Tennessee welcomes him to town.

Newsome is also slated to use official visits at Texas and Oklahoma, while UCLA is also a contender. Expect this recruitment to go down to the wire, lasting until at least January.

Recruit rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.