5 Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 14

Thanksgiving weekend annually presents a pivotal stretch of the recruiting cycle. Time away from school and work allows prospects and families to coordinate extended campus visits, and plenty are set to take place in the coming days.

Rivalry matchups renew across the country this Saturday, so game-day atmospheres promise to be electric with high-profile visitors in attendance. As we close in on just two months remaining until national signing day, here's a preview of premier recruits who are expected to spend time at schools.

USC: 4-Star TE Chris Clark (Avon, Connecticut)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 79 overall, No. 2 among tight ends

High School Success

Chris Clark has dazzled during his career at Avon Old Farms. The 6'6", 247-pound prospect is a dominant blocker along the edge who does damage attacking different phases of the defense as a precise route-runner.

He opened rushing lanes and caught 36 passes as a junior, including six touchdown receptions, per MaxPreps. His senior campaign featured a four-touchdown effort, showing continued growth as a receiver.

Clark also put on a strong performance this spring at Nike's football training camp in New Jersey, where he collected positional MVP honors.

Recruitment Status

Clark seems to be on the verge of another flip. After initially committing to North Carolina, he reopened the process and pledged to Michigan in July.

The atmosphere in Ann Arbor has changed tremendously since then, and most expect Michigan to clean house when it comes to the coaching staff. Clark voiced frustration last Saturday when the Wolverines fell to Maryland.

"Michigan has hit rock bottom," he tweeted.

This trip to USC offers him a chance to explore another option. He is also set to spend official visits at Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Florida State: 5-Star DE Terry Beckner Jr. (East St. Louis, Illinois)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 14 overall, No. 3 among strong-side defensive ends

High School Success

The East St. Louis High School standout continuously encountered and overcame double- and triple-team blocking efforts during his high school career. Terry Beckner Jr. followed up a strong performance this summer at The Opening with a dominant senior campaign.

He tallied 117 total tackles this season, including 75 solo stops, per MaxPreps. Beckner brought pressure from inside, consistently hurrying the passer en route to four sacks.

Recruitment Status

Beckner has been viewed as a Missouri lean throughout much of his recruitment, but several options remain on the table. The 6'4", 293-pounder gets an up-close peek at Tallahassee this weekend, one week after top-rated defensive end Josh Sweat visited town.

He is also considering offers from Auburn, LSU and Ohio State, among others. Beckner is projected to sign with Missouri by 81 percent of experts in 247Sports' Crystal Ball.

Alabama: 4-Star LB Ricky DeBerry (Mechanicsville, Virginia)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 72 overall, No. 7 among outside linebackers

High School Success

Atlee High School linebacker Ricky DeBerry has proved to be a scheme-diverse defender who can do damage from a three-point stance or an upright position. He earned invitations to The Opening and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

His breakout season occurred in 2012, which put him on the map as one of the Mid-Atlantic's most coveted defenders. DeBerry registered 55 tackles, including 15 for loss, and 7.5 sacks as a sophomore, per MaxPreps.

Recruitment Status

His collegiate process is coming down to the wire, with approximately three weeks separating him from a Dec. 19 announcement ceremony. DeBerry, who previously spent official visits at Michigan State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, makes his final campus visit before the decision to Alabama.

The 6'2.5", 240-pound prospect also has Virginia Tech, Virginia and Penn State among his eight finalists.

Ohio State: 3-Star WR Lawrence Cager (Towson, Maryland)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 390 overall, No. 47 among wide receivers

High School Success

Lawrence Cager is an elite downfield weapon at Calvert Hall College High School, where he caught 40 passes for 700 yards and eight touchdowns in 2013. He followed a breakout junior season by focusing on improvements.

Cager had told Bleacher Report his 40-yard dash improved from 4.7 seconds to the 4.5-range, and those strides showed up on game film. He appeared more aggressive and gained separation from secondary defenders with more frequency as 2014 progressed.

Recruitment Status

The 6'5", 202-pound playmaker is focused on six programs. Last week, he told Bleacher Report that Georgia, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Alabama are his top contenders.

He visited Virginia Tech earlier this month, while Alabama, Notre Dame and Ole Miss are expected to welcome him to campus in coming weeks. Cager plans to commit at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

The Buckeyes host him this weekend. It's a highly anticipated visit for both sides.

"Ohio State was my dream school growing up," Cager said. "I've always had a lot of respect for the team."

Virginia Tech: 5-Star DE Josh Sweat (Chesapeake, Virginia)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 overall, No. 1 among weak-side defensive ends

High School Success

Oscar Smith High School senior Josh Sweat was a relentless force last season, lining up alongside teammate Andrew Brown, who signed with Virginia in February as the nation's No. 1 defensive tackle. Sweat racked up 94 tackles and 22 sacks as a junior.

Sweat dazzled this summer at The Opening, completing the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at 6'5", 240 pounds. He overwhelmed several of the nation's prized offensive linemen.

"You have to be perfect against Sweat," 5-star offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt told me after one-on-one drills. "Otherwise you're done."

Sweat missed the majority of his senior season due to knee surgery.

Recruitment Status

After taking nearly two months off from the recruiting trail, Sweat has a packed schedule this month. He previously visited Florida State and Georgia.

Now he hits the road for a third consecutive weekend, but it's a much shorter trip this time. Virginia Tech has long viewed Sweat as the crown jewel of its 2015 recruiting efforts, and this visit could punctuate years of pursuit.

He is expected to announce a decision in December.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.