College Football's Most Important Offers of the Week

Two years ago, Hugh Freeze and the Ole Miss Rebels shocked the recruiting world by landing a star-studded 2013 class that would finish as the nation’s No. 8 class overall.

With standouts such as Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil and Laquon Treadwell spearheading the Rebels' rise, Freeze and his staff are out to capitalize on the buzz they've gained with their play on the field this season.

Their recruiting mission includes branching out and hitting territories outside of the southeast in their search for top talent.

Last week, the Rebels went to the state of New Jersey to offer two of the state’s top three prospects in the 2016 cycle, 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary and 4-star quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.

The 6’4”, 285-pound Gary is the nation’s top junior defensive tackle prospect and the No. 3 player overall in the 2016 class.

According to MaxPreps, through eight games this season, Gary has recorded 39 tackles—including 10 sacks and 20 quarterback hurries.

Gary holds offers from top programs across the country, including fellow SEC powers Alabama, Auburn, Florida and South Carolina, among others.

Meanwhile, Guarantano is the No. 6 pro-style passer and the No. 95 player overall among juniors.

Alabama and Tennessee are two SEC schools that join Ole Miss in the running for the 6’4” 200-pounder. 

With the Rebels finding success on the field and broadening their focus on the recruiting trail, top recruits such as Gary and Guarantano are likely to be more receptive to the thought of heading to Oxford.

Top 2016 TE Nets Two Big Offers

Even though 4-star Georgia product Isaac Nauta is set to commit little more than a month from now, offers are still rolling in for the nation’s top tight end prospect in 2016.

ESPN’s Gerry Hamilton notes that Nauta was offered by Oregon and Louisville last week. 

According to Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports (subscription required), Nauta has stated that his top four schools are Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina.

The 6’5” 240-pounder also recently announced that he will be moving to Florida next year and will play his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

2016 Michigan DE Racking Up Offers

Every week, there seems to be a player who goes on an offer-collecting spree. 

Last week’s honoree had to be 2016 4-star defensive end Khalid Kareem.

The 6’4” 240-pounder from Farmington Hills, Michigan, was offered by Duke, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, California, Iowa, Wake Forest and Miami. 

While in-state powers Michigan and Michigan State have yet to offer, Kareem believes an offer could be coming from the Spartans, according to SpartanTailgate (subscription required). 

“The Michigan State coaches basically told me they were very close to offering me,” Kareem told SpartanTailgate earlier this year. “Coach Dantonio told me he’s coming to see me play. I have a great relationship with coach Dantonio, coach (Ron) Burton and coach (Brad) Salem. Probably the relationship with Michigan State is better than all the other schools that are recruiting me.”

With other top programs coming after Kareem, both the Wolverines and the Spartans are on the clock in terms of pursuing the talented pass-rusher.

2016 Florida Receiver Nets Two Out-of-State Offers

It’s no secret that the top prospects in the state of Florida usually become national recruits who earn offers from programs across the country.

One such player in the 2016 class is 4-star wide receiver Eli Stove.

According to Woody Wommack of Rivals.com, Notre Dame joined the race for the 6’1”, 178-pound pass-catcher.

Shortly after, the nation’s No. 1 team, Mississippi State, jumped in to tender Stove, per Corey Bender of Scout.com.

Stove, who racked up 706 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, is a smooth receiver whose stock should continue to rise in the near future.

Best of the Rest

• Nebraska is the newest offer for 2015 3-star wideout Lawrence Cager.

• 2015 4-star running back Tyreik Gray added an offer from Georgia.

• Per Wommack, South Carolina offered 2015 3-star linebacker Daniel Fennell.

• 2015 3-star JUCO corner Justin Martin picked up an offer from Mississippi State.

• Ole Miss also offered 2015 3-star defensive end Anree Saint-Amour, according to Wommack.

• Kentucky offered sleeper corner Nate Dalton, per Wommack.

• Per Demetric Warren of Varsity Preps, Stanford offered 2015 4-star safety Justin Reid.

• Virginia Tech is the newest tender for 2016 4-star receiver Eric Kumah.

• 2016 linebacker Dominique Ross had a busy week, as he landed offers from Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Miami, UAB and Fresno State, according to ESPN’s Derek Tyson.

• Georgia is the newest offer for 2016 4-star offensive lineman Thiyo Lukusa.

• 2016 4-star offensive lineman Willie Allen picked up an offer from Auburn.

• According to Ryan Bartow of 247Sports, Alabama offered 2016 4-star offensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.

• Nick Saban and the Tide were one of a handful of schools to offer 2016 4-star receiver Cavin Ridley. Louisville, Miami, Tennessee, West Virginia and Temple also offered Ridley, who is the younger brother of the nation’s top receiver in 2015, 5-star Alabama pledge Calvin Ridley.

• According to Adam Friedman of Rivals.com, Miami offered 2016 4-star offensive lineman Michal Menet. The ‘Canes also offered 2016 defensive end Keyshon Camp, per Bender. 

• Duke is the newest offer for 2016 4-star safety Eric Burrell.

• According to Adam Gorney of Rivals.com, UCLA has offered 2016 3-star defensive end Oluwole Betiku.

• Niebuhr reports that Illinois offered 2016 4-star defensive tackle Julian Rochester.

• Penn State offered 2016 4-star offensive lineman Clark Yarbrough.

• Per Friedman, Penn State and Ohio State offered 2016 offensive lineman Karamo Dioubate.

• Pittsburgh is the newest offer for 2016 safety Andrew Pryts.

• South Carolina offered 2016 4-star offensive lineman JP Urquidez. The Gamecocks also tendered his teammate Anthony McFarland, a 2017 4-star running back. Finally, Steve Spurrier and his staff offered 2017 4-star receiver J.T. Cauthen.

• 2017 corner Stanford Samuels III picked up an offer from South Carolina. Per Flanagan (Florida) High School’s Twitter account, Oklahoma and Tennessee also offered Samuels.

• According to Bender, Florida State offered 2017 athlete Brian Edwards.

• Gorney reports that USC offered 2017 4-star corner Darnay Holmes.

• 2018 running back Ricky Slade picked up offers from Syracuse and Tennessee.

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

Follow @SanjayKirpalani.